The Portage Terriers have traded or loaned four players ahead of the CJHL trade deadline (Feb. 25 at 5pm CST).
Terrier captain Reece Henry (00) has been sent to the Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL), goalie Cole Johnston (01) has been loaned to the Weyburn Redwings (SJHL), and Tyson McLean (00) & Jacob Piller (00) have been sent to the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) all for future considerations.
Prior to the deadline the Terriers also traded Kian Calder, Peyton Gorski and Cole Dekoninck.
“I was especially happy to have found 20-year-olds Henry, Gorski, Piller, Dekoninck and McLean a place to finish out their junior careers should each of these leagues get started and keep going,” says Terrier head coach and GM Blake Spiller. “It’s disappointing not to have them all playing with the Terriers considering the MJHL was the first league to start playing in the CJHL this year and did an admiral job of following all the protocols. It’s unfortunate these things are out of our control.”
Reece Henry – A true leader on and off the ice, Henry was named captain at the start of the 2020-21 season. A two-way forward, Henry came to the Terriers for the 2018-19 season and saw his role grow as the season progressed. He ultimately scored the Turnbull Cup winning goal in overtime of game 7 against the Swan Valley Stampeders, and then helped the team win an ANVET Cup. He finished his Terrier career with 71 points in 122 games. “Henry will always be remembered for his heroics with Game 7 final OT goal,” says Terrier head coach and GM Blake Spiller. “Him, Ocean and Shindle were such a key line for us that playoff season. They were a hard trio to play against and played against other teams’ top lines as well as chipping in offensively. He came as advertised, as a guy who came to the rink every day to work hard. Obviously he was thought of with high regards being named the captain this season.”
Cole Johnston – Johnston made his MJHL debut last season with the Terriers playing in 12 games before going down with an upper-body injury. He was able to post a 2.29 GAA and .903 SV%. This year before the shutdown he had a 3.89 GAA and .897 SV% in four games.
Jacob Piller – Acquired from the Weyburn Redwings partway through the 2019-20 season to help in the run to the Centennial Cup, Piller put up 14 goals and 40 points in 39 games. He had three points in eight games at the point of shutdown this season. “Pills was a key acquisition for us last season playing top 6 up front both seasons,” says Spiller. “I Thought he got to another level after he arrived here. Was looking forward to seeing how good he was going to be this season with a full year with us. His all around ability will be difficult to replace.”
Tyson McLean – McLean came to the Portage Terriers in the summer of 2020 in a trade from the Humboldt Broncos. McLean played only 7 games as a Terrier but was among the team leaders in points with six. “With his speed he was projected to be more of a shut down PK guy,” says Spiller. “He was off to a real good start offensively. A veteran who was going to be key for us as the season progressed.”