The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It just seemed that the Portage Terriers were not to be denied the Anavet Cup, and their shot at a national championship. The MJHL champions earned their right to play at the upcoming Royal Bank Cup after dumping Yorkton of the SJHL 3-2 Saturday night. However, it was the turnaround in a game last Thursday in Yorkton that set the stage for Portage to win the series. Yorkton had stormed back to win two home games, and tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. The SJHL champs were on a roll. Now, before their capacity home crowd, they came out flying in the first period in the crucial game five, and grabbed a 3-0 lead after the opening frame. One can only imagine what was going through the minds of the Yorkton players, and their fans, during that first intermission. Also, one has to admire what must have been said in the Portage dressing room. Because it was the Portage team that was about to take control of the series, despite the lopsided score. Portage scored once in the second period and kept Yorkton off the board. They scored twice in the third period while once again keeping Yorkton from scoring. Then, in the third overtime period, Jordan McIntyre scored the goal that gave Portage the game, and sent them back home for game six. On Saturday in Portage, the hometown Terriers won the close game 3-2 and will now be packing their gear to skate onto the national stage for the first time in their team's history. The winning goal, off the stick of Andrew Jackman, came late in the third period with Portage short-handed. There's no stopping destiny. With Portage taking the series against Yorkton 4-2, it marks just the eighth time in the 31-year history of the Anavet Cup that the MJHL rep has won over the SJHL. Even though Yorkton came up a bit short, the SJHL will still be represented in the Royal Bank Cup, as it will be hosted by the Weyburn Red Wings, and is set for May 7-15.
