The Portage Terriers became only the third team from Manitoba to win the National Junior ‘A’ Hockey Championship—the first title for the province since 1974(The Selkirk Steelers won in 1974, the Portage Terriers one year earlier in 1973.  Back then it was known as the Centennial Cup.)

“It’s definitely great to get the RBC (Cup),” said Terriers forward Brad Bowles.

“Biggest trophy in junior.  Our names are going to go down in history.”

The Terriers defeated Ontario’s Carleton Place Canadians 5-2 on Sunday night in front of a sold out crowd at the PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man.

With the win the Terriers also became the first host team to win the RBC Cup since the Weyburn Red Wings in 2005.

Portage opened the scoring in the first period when Grant Valiquette got a partial breakaway and picked the top corner on Carleton Place goaltender Guillaume Therien.

Davis Ross tapped in a rebound in the second period off a Garick Gray shot to make it 2-0 Portage.

The Canadians answered later in the period. 

A Terriers’ scoring chance in one end resulted in a 3-on-1 for Carleton Place.

Alex Robinson converted a pass from Wesley Baker going top corner on Terriers’ goalie Zac Robidoux to make it a 2-1 game.

It was a one-goal game after forty minutes of play but the turning point of the game came in the third period.

Ryker Killins high-sticked Terriers’ defenceman Kevin Pochuk in the face, drawing blood and resulting in Killins getting a 4 minute double minor penalty.

The Terriers capitalized on the ensuing power play—Jordyn Boyd drove the net and stuffed home a loose puck to make it 3-1.

The Terriers got another power play later in the period and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Brad Bowles, batted in a puck out of mid-air off a pass from his twin brother, Shawn Bowles, to make it a 4-1 game.

Shawn Bowles scored an empty-net goal after falling on his side with 3 minutes left in the third period to make it a 5-1 game.

Things got nasty after that.

Carleton Place forward Tyson Stewart slashed Terriers’ captain Tanner Jago in the back of the leg.

A scrum followed and Stewart shoved the official who pulled Stewart out of a gathering of players. 

Stewart was given a match penalty for abuse of officials and got ejected from the game.

Maxim St. Pierre scored for the Canadians with 1:00 left in the game to make it 5-2.