The Terriers Win! The Terriers Win!
The Terriers repeat as Turnbull Cup Champions as they beat the Steinbach Pistons in game 5 and take the best of 7 series 4-1.
Assistant Captain Shawn Bowles admits this Championship might be just a little bit sweeter as nobody was expecting it from us. “After a year like the last with only 4 guys returning, I don’t think anybody saw this coming. We had a great group of guys, and we got it done! “
The Terriers were first to score at the 14:26 mark of the first on a delayed penalty. It would be the lone goal of the period and Steinbach would pick up just 6 shots in the first frame.
Just after the media time out halfway through the 2nd, Chase Brakel would beat Bengert from the slot to give the Terriers the 2 goal edge. Just a few minutes later, Portage would pad their lead with a Wowryk marker. Again the Terriers would hold the Pistons to just 6 shots.
In the 3rd the Terriers would keep it going with a beautiful Brandon Stanley shot for the 4 goal lead. Captain Brad Bowles says this is the point where the team started to feel confident that they were going to get it done. Anderson would score for Steinbach at the 15:50 mark to put the Pistons on the board and break the Park shut out, but Chase Brakel would slam the door shut with an empty netter.
As the clock expired and the horn sounded in front of almost 1800 of the best fans in the MJHL, the Terriers rushed the ice to celebrate.
Assistant Captain Brett Orr describes the experience as unreal. “To win at home in front of Portage and our friends and family was amazing. These fans have supported us all year and we wouldn’t be here without them. We did it for them!”
The Terriers wrapped up the post season with a record of 12-1, with their only loss coming in game 4 against Steinbach. Captain Brad Bowles would pick up the hardware for Top Scorer and MVP of the playoffs with 24 points and Nathan Park would pick up Top Goaltender.
The Terriers will take a few days off to enjoy the win only to get back at it as they head to the Western Canada Cup in Estevan, SK.