PORTAGE CLAIMS ANAVET CUP

The Portage Terriers are Anavet Cup Champions, hoisting the Trophy Thursday night in North Battleford after a 7-3 win over the Battlefords North Stars, winning the series in five games.

The Terriers will host the 2020 National Junior ‘A’ Championship, and they’ll get some valuable experience as they travel to the 2019 event beginning next weekend in Brooks, Alberta.

Portage got things going early in Game 5 as Ocean Wiesblatt opened the scoring just 27 seconds in.  His brother Orca Wiesblatt led the way with two.  Joey Moffatt, Jay Buchholz, Kolton Shindle and Chase Brakel added the others while Nathan Moore made 29/32 saves.

Matthew Fletcher, Quinton Loon-Stewardson and Brett Gammer replied as the North Stars scored once in each period.  Joel Gryzbowski made 20/25 saves in the loss while Chad Duran also seeing some action in the 20-year-old’s final junior game.

The North Stars won the series opener, but the Terriers went on to capture the next four consecutive, including three wins in three nights in Battleford, clinching them the 2018-2019 Anavet Cup and a berth in Nationals.