Stampeders Close Out P.C.C.

Taken from the top of the overpass on Tupper Ave in Portage, that's the east side of the Centennial Arena.

Here's a little "filler" as the Swan Valley Stampeders enjoy nearly a week off as they get set to face the Dauphin Kings in the MJHL Sherwood Division Final.

I don't have an exact number, but I'm pretty sure the Portage Centennial Arena is the rink I've done more games out of than any other rink, and the final MJHL game in that building was Saturday night when the Stampeders won Game 5.

In four years of doing games in the MJHL, a team I've covered has met the Terriers in Round 1 EVERY year. I started play-by-play in the 2005-06 season in Dauphin, did 4 regular season games in Portage, before the two teams went to 6 games in the playoffs (3 in Portage).

I started at GX in 2007-08, and the Swan Valley Stampeders went to 7 games with the Terriers in Round 1 (4 in Portage). Wayway was swept by Portage last year (2 playoff games in Portage), and this year I was back there 3 more times in the playoffs, along with, probably an average or 4 regular season games there each year.

That would make it roughly 20 times while working here, and 7 while in Dauphin, so AT LEAST 25 times, maybe closer to 30 times, I've made the 3.5 hour trip to Portage to call a game at the historic Centennial Arena in four years.
South side of the old barn... from the parking lot (where my vehicle was written on in my last trip there!!)
From my corner broadcast perch. That far end looks a loooong way away, especially when Portage used to wear black jersies with dark green numbers! That's the net where former Swan Valley Stampeder Steph Vigier scored in 2OT on a short-handed breakaway in Game 1 of the 2007-08 playoffs.

If Darryl Skender's reading, he probably knows that net as the one Nick Kalnicki scored in overtime of Game 7 of last year's Anavet Cup!

Lotsa history in this barn... I meant to take a pic of all the banners the Terriers have hanging. This is their earliest playoff exit in a few years, having won the last two league championships... but guess what? They'll be back.

Off the top of my head, some of the ages of some of their impact players from this season...

F Tyler Moore- 19
F Cole Brunet- 18
F Shaq Merasty- 18
F Stephane Pattyn- 18
F Kajon McKay- 17
F Dustin Bruyere- 17
D Cody Kostecki- 18
D Rene Hunter- 16
G Jason Kasdorf- 17

They'll be GOOD next year... and the year after for sure.