mjhl championship Portage fans lift Terriers to title

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This article was published 7/4/2009 (3481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Led by four points each from captain Eric Delong and Brenden Walker, the Terriers defeated the Selkirk Steelers 4-2 before an enthusiastic sellout crowd of 1,350 at Portage Centennial Arena Tuesday night.

"It's just the best!" said Terriers captain Eric Delong.

"Last year we won it on the road but to win it here is just unbelievable — unbelievable!

Delong said the key to winning the best-of-seven series 4-1 was relentless checking.

"They had a really strong goaltender so we just wanted to do what we do best, just get on the forecheck, get pucks to the net and try to outwork them and I thought we did that," he said.

The Terriers now advance to the ANAVET Cup interprovincial championship series against the Saskatchewan champion Humboldt Broncos, who clinched the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League title by beating the Melville Millionaires 5-1 Tuesday night.

"After we got swept by (Saskatchewan) last year, that's something we thought about a lot all through the off-season and all along this year and we're just excited to have the opportunity to get some revenge there," Delong said.

The Steelers tried everything — they wore their special retro third jerseys and Steelers coach Keith Cassidy broke up his big line, save for on the power play, of Adam Pleskach, Russ Payne and Blair Hawes until late in the third period.

"It huge to be the first team from Portage to get back-to-backs (titles)," said Portage head coach Blake Spiller. "We played a real good club here in Selkirk and they beat what was considered the favourites in the league (Winnipeg Saints) so you've got to tip your hat to them."

Delong, who assisted on his team's first three goals, slammed the door on the Steelers early in the third period when a pass out in front from Walker found Delong alone and his one-timer beat Steelers goalie Alan Armour.

Taylor Dickin and Wes Pawluk had goals for the Steelers.

Tyler Moore, Drew Ellement and Riley Nixdorf, with the winner, also scored for Portage.

Terriers netminder Bryan Mountain was named the top goaltender of the playoffs.

The ANAVET champion earns a berth in the 2009 Royal Bank Cup national junior A championship May 2-10 in Victoria.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca