Three New Dogs In The Pound Good teams don't re-build, they re-load. And the off season re-loading in Terrier town has begun. Head coach and general manager Blake Spiller pulled the trigger on a trio of moves beginning with the acquisition of Portage native Jared Whincup from the Swan Valley Stampeders for future considerations. The 6' 1", 215 lb. winger will return home for his final year of junior eligibility. In 60 games with the Stamps last season, Whincup potted 8 goals and assisted on 9 others for 17 points while racking up 33 minutes in penalties. The second deal saw the Dogs pick up Kalib Thunderchief in a deal with the Fort Frances Junior Sabres of the SIJHL, again for future considerations. The 6' 0", 210 lb. forward is also a 20 year old and calls Lethbridge, Alberta home. In 29 games last season with the Sabres, Thunderchief scored 5 times while adding 9 assists for 14 points. He was also assessed 42 minutes in penalties. The final deal brings a 20 year old goaltender to the club as Drew Strandberg was acquired from the Thunder Bay Bearcats of the SIJHL, also for future considerations. Strandberg, a Thunder Bay native, falls one inch short of six feet and weighs in at 160 lbs. He appeared in 34 games last season for the Bearcats posting a record of 20-6-1-5 while picking up a pair of shut-outs. He sported an impressive 2.60 goals against average and a .918 save percentage to lead the Bearcats between the pipes. A huge Portage welcome to Jared, Kalib and Drew. September can't come soon enough for us to see the addition you'll make to our club. In other news, the Portage Terriers organization is proud to announce that all-star defenceman Drew Ellement has accepted a scholarship to Northeastern University in Boston. The veteran rearguard was acquired in an early season trade with the Winnipeg South Blues. Once in Terrier town, Ellement anchored an already strong defence as the club allowed a league low 175 goals. Come playoff time, the natural born leader turned on the offensive jets as number 5 scored 17 times and added 5 assists in just 13 games to win MJHL playoff MVP honors. Ellement will be joining fellow teammate Bryan Mountain in a Huskies uniform. He becomes the third 2008-09 Terrier to trade in a stay in the Dog Pound for a Division 1 scholarship, joining Mountain and CJHL player of the year Eric Delong who committed to Sacred Heart earlier in the season. Congratulations Drew on a well deserved scholarship. And finally, Mountain who back stopped the Terriers to a second consecutive Turnbull Cup has been invited to attend a prospect evaluation camp for the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning in early July. Mountain led the MJHL with a 32-9-1 through the regular season, while playing 'out of this world' in the playoff run through the Anavet Cup. Local product Rob Roteliuk has agreed to play for a team down south in Louisiana next season, while bone-crunching hit man Darren Miller will suit up for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in our nation's capital. |
