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This article was published 23/10/2021 (1760 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Waiting for high school hockey to return has been a challenge for many members of the Portage Collegiate Institute Trojansm who are looking to hit their stride in their first week of regular-season play in the Zone 4 High School Hockey league.
“It feels pretty good, our team is looking good, all the guys are happy to be back and we’re just hoping to get a full season out of this year,” said Brandon Ferg, a Grade 12 defenceman.
After the 2020-21 season was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, eight of the 18 Trojans on the current roster are looking to make the most out of their return to hockey.
“Our Grade 11 year got cut short so we’re in our third year but we’ve only played for two years,” Ferg said.
“I’m excited to get back on the ice, I think all of us have been waiting a long time for this over a year and looking to start off the season on the right foot by hopefully pulling out a win,” said Grade 12 forward Carson Dubois.
“We’ll just try to move forward and get better every day.”
That’s a feeling shared by hockey general manager Mark Essay as he welcomes his team back to the rink.
“It’s been a long time, we tried to get things going but this year it looks like it’s really going to happen,” Essay said.
“The level of engagement is really high this year because guys are hungry to get out there. We had a really competitive selection process this year and we actually had to cut guys that normally would have made our team in years before. I think we are going to be really solid.”
Essay said the Trojans have struggled in the past to recruit players because of the Central Plains Capitals drawing players to join its AAA U18 squad. This year, however, Essay is confident in the athletes Portage was able to select.
“We have a lot of Grade 12 players and a lot of talent and I think we’re going to make a run for the banner and possibly even give those Winnipeg teams a run when we make it to provincials,” Essay said.
The Trojans will play 24 regular-season games in the Zone 4 High School Hockey Leagu, which is celebrating 50 years this season. The players expect the Morris Mavericks and Carman Cougars to provide stiff competition.
“Zone 4 has always been a little bit hit and miss, typically you’re either rebuilding or you have a really strong team with Grade 12s,” Essay said.
“Ironically ,this year we have a strong year of Grade 12s and it’s been fortunate timing for us. I know other teams in Zone 4 are young and not as talented as we are, I think. A lot of games should go in our favour as long as we can stay out of the penalty box.”
After their extended off season, the players will be working hard to get their legs back
“I race motocross in the summer and I’m in the gym all the time as well, so I train a lot,” Ferg said.
“It feels good, I’m glad to get the rust off and I can’t wait,” said Carter Moorhouse, a Grade 12 defenceman.
“I think looking at our lineup there’s a few guys that are tremendous athletes that are going to be spectacular players in about six weeks from now because they haven’t been doing as much,” Essay said.
“They have a little extra COVID weight on them. As long as we coach them properly in terms of short shifts and not play them too much when they are tired, we’ll do well.”
Essay is encouraged by the team’s depth, noting they have three solid lines, which puts the club in a favourable position.
“Typically in Trojan history we have one scoring line and hopefully two neutralizing lines,” Essay said.
“I really feel like we have three scoring lines this year. We have a seasoned goaltender and a young guy as well. We were looking at lineups last night and it’s like the third line isn’t really even a third line.”
At press time, the Trojans had begun their season with three games in three consecutive nights. Essay said he could sense the anticipation in his players.
“There’s a lot of excitement to go out there, Winkler is always one of our adversaries and so there’s a lot of tension sometimes that isn’t even about hockey so we can hopefully stay neutral to not let them get on the scoreboard and not let them get ahead of us in our mental game,” Essay said.
“I’m really excited to get back on the ice, we have a good group of guys here on the team and I can’t wait for this season,” said Grade 12 forward Ashton Hlady.
In the team’s first week of action, the Trojans defeated the Northlands Parkway Collegiate Nighthawks 11-0 on Oct. 19, then stomped the Garden Valley Collegiate Zodiacs 17-0 on Oct. 20 before welcoming the Carman Cougars in their Oct. 21 home opener with a 7-1 victory.
Waiting for high school hockey to return has been a challenge for many members of the Portage Collegiate Institute Trojansm who are looking to hit their stride in their first week of regular-season play in the Zone 4 High School Hockey league.
JOSEPH BERNACKI
Oct. 19, 2021 - Trojans general manager, Mark Essay (far right), and his PCI sqaud are gearing up for a 24 game regular season schedule. Eight of the 18 players on the roster have entered their grade 12 season, giving extra motivation to those players to have a strong final season with the club. (JOSEPH BERNACKI/CANSTAR COMMUNITY NEWS/HEADLINER)
“It feels pretty good, our team is looking good, all the guys are happy to be back and we’re just hoping to get a full season out of this year,” said Brandon Ferg, a Grade 12 defenceman.
After the 2020-21 season was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, eight of the 18 Trojans on the current roster are looking to make the most out of their return to hockey.
“Our Grade 11 year got cut short so we’re in our third year but we’ve only played for two years,” Ferg said.
“I’m excited to get back on the ice, I think all of us have been waiting a long time for this over a year and looking to start off the season on the right foot by hopefully pulling out a win,” said Grade 12 forward Carson Dubois.
“We’ll just try to move forward and get better every day.”
That’s a feeling shared by hockey general manager Mark Essay as he welcomes his team back to the rink.
“It’s been a long time, we tried to get things going but this year it looks like it’s really going to happen,” Essay said.
“The level of engagement is really high this year because guys are hungry to get out there. We had a really competitive selection process this year and we actually had to cut guys that normally would have made our team in years before. I think we are going to be really solid.”
Essay said the Trojans have struggled in the past to recruit players because of the Central Plains Capitals drawing players to join its AAA U18 squad. This year, however, Essay is confident in the athletes Portage was able to select.
“We have a lot of Grade 12 players and a lot of talent and I think we’re going to make a run for the banner and possibly even give those Winnipeg teams a run when we make it to provincials,” Essay said.
The Trojans will play 24 regular-season games in the Zone 4 High School Hockey Leagu, which is celebrating 50 years this season. The players expect the Morris Mavericks and Carman Cougars to provide stiff competition.
“Zone 4 has always been a little bit hit and miss, typically you’re either rebuilding or you have a really strong team with Grade 12s,” Essay said.
“Ironically ,this year we have a strong year of Grade 12s and it’s been fortunate timing for us. I know other teams in Zone 4 are young and not as talented as we are, I think. A lot of games should go in our favour as long as we can stay out of the penalty box.”
After their extended off season, the players will be working hard to get their legs back
JOSEPH BERNACKI
Oct. 19, 2021 - The Portage Collegiate Institute Trojans have waited two seasons to tie up the skates and take to the rink in their Zone IV hockey league. Trojans general manager Mark Essay said the team has a strong Grade 12 core hungry to play. (JOSEPH BERNACKI/CANSTAR COMMUNITY NEWS/HEADLINER)
“I race motocross in the summer and I’m in the gym all the time as well, so I train a lot,” Ferg said.
“It feels good, I’m glad to get the rust off and I can’t wait,” said Carter Moorhouse, a Grade 12 defenceman.
“I think looking at our lineup there’s a few guys that are tremendous athletes that are going to be spectacular players in about six weeks from now because they haven’t been doing as much,” Essay said.
“They have a little extra COVID weight on them. As long as we coach them properly in terms of short shifts and not play them too much when they are tired, we’ll do well.”
Essay is encouraged by the team’s depth, noting they have three solid lines, which puts the club in a favourable position.
“Typically in Trojan history we have one scoring line and hopefully two neutralizing lines,” Essay said.
“I really feel like we have three scoring lines this year. We have a seasoned goaltender and a young guy as well. We were looking at lineups last night and it’s like the third line isn’t really even a third line.”
At press time, the Trojans had begun their season with three games in three consecutive nights. Essay said he could sense the anticipation in his players.
“There’s a lot of excitement to go out there, Winkler is always one of our adversaries and so there’s a lot of tension sometimes that isn’t even about hockey so we can hopefully stay neutral to not let them get on the scoreboard and not let them get ahead of us in our mental game,” Essay said.
“I’m really excited to get back on the ice, we have a good group of guys here on the team and I can’t wait for this season,” said Grade 12 forward Ashton Hlady.
In the team’s first week of action, the Trojans defeated the Northlands Parkway Collegiate Nighthawks 11-0 on Oct. 19, then stomped the Garden Valley Collegiate Zodiacs 17-0 on Oct. 20 before welcoming the Carman Cougars in their Oct. 21 home opener with a 7-1 victory.
