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Former North Stars defenceman wins junior title in Manitoba

Apr 21, 2016 | 10:38 AM

A trade from the Battlefords North Stars to the Portage Terriers couldn’t have worked out better for Brock Weston, as the Terriers won the Manitoba Junior League championship for the second year in a row.

After an injury-riddled season with the North Stars in 2014-15, where Weston only suited up for 27 games, he said a trade was something he felt was necessary.

“It just wasn’t the right fit,” Brock said of his season with the North Stars. “I felt it would be better for me to get out of there. I wasn’t in the best position to be successful and help the team win, and if I wasn’t going to be successful I didn’t want to take away a roster spot from someone who would.”

The Portage Terriers were the best junior A team in Canada last year, winning the Royal Bank Cup on home ice as they hosted the event.

This year has been much of the same so far as the Terriers steamrolled their way through the MJHL with a 52-6-2 record, before losing just one playoff game on their way to a second straight championship.

Brock said the success was a little unexpected for Portage, as they had just four returning players from their RBC Cup winning team the previous season, and were thought to be a .500 team this year.

After scoring just three goals and two assists with the North Stars last year, Brock was a key contributor for the Terriers as he scored seven goals and tallied 27 assists.

“I wanted to step into a big role and lead these guys. We had a good group of four guys returning from last year who helped me out at the beginning and I was able to help the younger guys with their transition to junior hockey.”

The Terriers season isn’t finished yet, as they’ve now advanced to the Western Canada Cup which is being held in Estevan. The event features the host team Estevan Bruins along with the champions of the British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba junior leagues, vying for spots at this year’s RBC Cup in Lloydminster.

While Brock said his focus is still on his team performing well at Westerns and potentially the RBC Cup, he is mulling over some options for his future in hockey.

“Nothing is finalized yet but I’m hoping to play some NCAA hockey. It’s been a great year, but we’re not finished yet.”

The Western Canada Cup begins April 30.

 

Email: cjnbsports@jpbg.ca           

Twitter: @craig_beauch