The Portage Terriers are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey team from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
History The Portage Terriers were founded in 1932. Ten years later the Terriers won the Turnbull Cup as Manitoba junior champions and went on to defeat the Oshawa Generals to win the Memorial Cup. Their roster included Joe Bell, Gordon Bell, Billy Gooden, Lin Bend, Jack MacDonald, Wally Stefaniw, Bobby Love, Oliver "Bud" Ritchie, Bill Heindl Sr., Jack O'Reilly, Joe Ledoux, Lloyd Smith and Don Campbell.
A shortage of players following World War II forced the Terriers to cease operations in 1947. The Portage Terriers would be reborn twenty years later as members of the new Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The CMJHL lasted only one season before it merged with the MJHL. The Terriers became a Junior 'A' club following the reorganization of Canadian junior hockey in 1970. In 1972-73, the Terriers won the ANAVET Cup as Manitoba-Saskatchewan champions and Abbott Cup as Western Canadian champions, and then defeated the Pembroke Lumber Kings to win the 1973 Centennial Cup.
The team endured some tough years following their Centennial Cup appearance and it was not until 1989 that the Terriers would recapture the league title. Since the mid-2000s, the Terriers have been the MJHL's most dominant franchise, winning nine Turnbull Cups, three ANAVET Cups, and one national championship (2015).
During the 2014-15 season, the Terriers set a new league record by posting a winning percentage of .917 during the regular season, after which they went undefeated through the playoffs to capture the Turnbull Cup. The Terriers finished second at the Western Canada Cup and then moved on to host the 2015 Royal Bank Cup in Portage la Prairie, where they captured the national title with a victory over the Carleton Place Canadians in the championship game. The 2020 national championship, rechristened as the Centennial Cup, was also to be played in Portage la Prairie but cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Terriers have played at Stride Place, originally named the Portage Credit Union Centre, since 2010. Prior to this, the Terriers played at the Portage Centennial Arena. The team's head coach and general manager is Blake Spiller, who has held the position since 2006. Spiller is the winningest coach in the team's history.
The 1942 and 1972-73 Portage Terriers have been inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame under the team category.
List of championships
Championship Years won Turnbull Cup 1942, 1973, 1990, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 Abbott Cup 1942, 1973 Memorial Cup 1942 ANAVET Cup 1973, 2005, 2011, 2019 Royal Bank/Centennial Cup 1973, 2015
Season-by-season record Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs1967-68 23 6 17 0 - 72 147 12 4th CMJHL1968-69 34 3 28 3 - 104 236 9 8th MJHL1969-70 34 12 20 2 - 127 156 26 6th MJHL1970-71 48 27 15 6 - 163 158 60 2nd MJHL1971-72 48 33 14 1 - 266 193 67 2nd MJHL1972-73 48 32 16 0 - 280 187 62 1st MJHL Won League, won AC, won AbC, won MCC1973-74 48 29 18 1 - 255 201 59 4th MJHL1974-75 48 25 22 1 - 223 209 51 4th MJHL1975-76 52 25 27 0 - 236 245 50 7th MJHL1976-77 52 17 35 0 - 214 287 34 10th MJHL1977-78 52 18 33 1 - 244 335 37 8th MJHL1978-79 48 26 22 0 - 267 289 52 4th MJHL1979-80 44 5 37 2 - 186 399 12 9th MJHL1980-81 48 20 27 1 - 240 271 41 5th MJHL1981-82 48 15 32 1 - 215 288 31 7th MJHL1982-83 48 23 24 1 - 259 254 47 6th MJHL1983-84 48 10 38 0 - 156 371 20 8th MJHL1984-85 48 6 42 0 - 184 370 12 9th MJHL1985-86 48 12 35 1 - 209 326 25 9th MJHL1986-87 47 27 20 0 - 299 245 54 5th MJHL1987-88 48 27 21 0 - 293 278 54 4th MJHL1988-89 48 28 19 1 - 276 232 57 4th MJHL1989-90 52 43 9 0 - 352 194 86 1st MJHL Won League1990-91 48 23 25 0 - 268 267 46 5th MJHL1991-92 48 29 18 0 1 310 203 59 4th MJHL1992-93 48 34 12 2 0 282 188 70 1st MJHL1993-94 56 31 24 1 0 -- -- 63 4th MJHL1994-95 56 24 27 1 4 218 249 53 6th MJHL1995-96 56 34 20 1 1 255 196 70 3rd MJHLLost quarter-final1996-97 56 31 22 2 1 243 200 65 3rd MJHLLost quarter-final1997-98 62 39 17 5 1 271 204 84 3rd MJHL1998-99 62 42 16 2 2 310 214 88 2nd MJHL1999-00 64 34 23 - 7 291 254 75 5th MJHL2000-01 64 36 23 - 5 226 210 77 4th MJHL2001-02 64 43 19 - 2 275 169 88 3rd MJHL2002-03 64 44 12 - 8 331 181 96 2nd MJHL2003-04 64 32 26 - 6 232 230 70 6th MJHL Lost final2004-05 63 39 18 - 6 237 191 84 1st MJHL Won League, won AC2005-06 63 23 30 - 10 196 218 56 8th MJHL Lost quarter-final2006-07 62 34 20 - 8 271 231 76 5th MJHL Lost quarter-final2007-08 62 42 15 - 5 278 188 89 3rd MJHL Won League2008-09 62 46 13 - 3 287 175 95 2nd MJHLWon League2009-10 62 35 17 - 10 223 173 80 2nd MJHL Lost quarter-final2010-11 62 40 15 - 7 227 164 87 1st MJHL Won League, won AC2011-12 62 42 15 - 5 266 189 89 1st MJHL Won League2012-13 60 32 27 - 1 188 188 65 6th MJHL Lost quarter-final2013-14 60 36 16 - 8 206 155 80 4th MJHL Lost quarter-final2014-15 60 53 3 - 4 285 120 110 1st MJHL Won League, Won RBC2015-16 60 52 6 - 2 276 123 106 1st MJHL Won League2016-17 60 37 19 - 4 256 198 78 5th MJHL Won League2017-18 60 38 16 - 6 251 163 78 3rd MJHL Lost quarter-final2018-19 60 46 11 - 3 277 150 95 1st MJHL Won League, won AC2019-20 60 44 14 - 2 240 145 90 2nd MJHL Cancelled2020-21 8 4 3 - 1 25 25 9 5th MJHL Cancelled2021-22 54 23 24 - 7 169 186 53 8th MJHL DNQ2022-23 58 43 11 - 4 181 206 86 1st MJHL Lost-Semi-final2023–24 58 36 14 - 4 213 156 80 3rd MJHL Lost quarter-final2024–25 58 40 17 - 1 197 152 81 3rd of 7 East Div3rd of 13 MJHL Won Div Semifinal 4-3 (Steinbach Pistons)Lost League Semifinals 2-4 (Dauphin Kings)
Playoffs
1971 Lost quarter-final Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2 1972 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Kenora Muskies 4-games-to-1 Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1973 Won League, won Man/Sask Championship, won Abbott Cup, won 1973 Centennial Cup Portage Terriers defeated Kenora Muskies 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS Portage Terriers defeated Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 3-games-to-2 and a default MAN/SASK CHAMPIONS Portage Terriers defeated Penticton Broncos (BCJHL) 4-games-to-3 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS Portage Terriers defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 4-games-to-1 CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS 1974 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Brandon Travellers 4-games-to-2 Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 1975 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1976 Lost quarter-final Brandon Travellers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1977 DNQ 1978 Lost quarter-final Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1979 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-3 Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1980 DNQ 1981 Lost quarter-final Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1982 Lost quarter-final Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1983 Lost quarter-final Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1984 Lost quarter-final Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1985 DNQ 1986 DNQ 1987 Lost quarter-final Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1988 Lost final Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1 Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1 Winnipeg South Blues defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1989 Lost quarter-final Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 1990 Won League, lost Anavet Cup Portage Terriers defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-1 Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1 Portage Terriers defeated Kildonan North Stars 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2 1991 Lost quarter-final Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1992 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1 Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1993 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-none Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1994 Lost quarter-final Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1995 Lost quarter-final Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 1996 Lost quarter-final Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 1997 Lost quarter-final OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 1998 Lost quarter-final OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2 1999 Lost quarter-final Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2 2000 Lost quarter-final Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 2001 Lost quarter-final Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 2002 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-1 OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 2003 Lost semi-final Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-3 OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 2004 Lost final Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-2 Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 2005 Won League, won Anavet Cup, lost in 2005 Royal Bank Cup round robin Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2 Portage Terriers defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-1 Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-2 MJHL CHAMPIONS Portage Terriers defeated Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) 4-games-to-2 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS Fifth and eliminated in 2005 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3) 2006 Lost quarter-final Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2 2007 Lost quarter-final Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 2008 Won League, lost Anavet Cup Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-3 Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Saints 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS Humboldt Broncos defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none 2009 Won League, lost Anavet Cup Portage Terriers defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS Humboldt Broncos defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 2010 Lost quarter-final Swan Valley Stampeders defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1 2011 Won League, won Anavet Cup, lost in 2011 Royal Bank Cup round robin Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-2 Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-2 Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS Portage Terriers defeated La Ronge Ice Wolves 4-games-to-3 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS Fifth and eliminated from 2011 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3) 2012 Won League, lost in 2012 Royal Bank Cup round robin Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-0 Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2 Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Saints 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS Humboldt Broncos defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 Fifth and eliminated from 2012 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3) 2013 Lost quarter-final Steinbach Pistons defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 2014 Lost quarter-final Steinbach Pistons defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3 2015 Won League, WCC Runner-up, Won Royal Bank Cup Portage Terriers defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-games-to-none Portage Terriers defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS Second in the 2015 Western Canada Cup round robin (3-1)