20-year-old defenceman Parker Sherr has been named captain of the Portage Terriers for the 2024-25 season.
With the upcoming year being his third with Portage, Head Coach Blake Spiller said Scherr is the perfect choice to lead on and off the ice. “I think he was the obvious choice” the longtime bench boss said to PortageTerriers.com. “He wore a letter for us last year and I think he’s the consensus from our team.”
“It’s an honour”, Sherr tells PortageTerriers.com about being named captain. “I’ve been here for three years, and I look forward to lead(ing) and being a good example to the new guys. Portage has a long history of winning and being a great team. The fact that I can be a captain with a cornerstone franchise is an honour. I have some big shoes to fill with (Tayem) Gislason being a good captain last year and (Kian) Calder the year before.”
It’s been an interesting road getting to this point for the Edmonton, Alberta product. “I remember when I first got traded way back three years ago”, Scherr says reflecting on a move that would change his life. “I was very nervous to come to Portage. It was the furthest I would ever be away from home, it was a whole new environment, but once I got settled in, it just all felt right. Portage has done a great job, I mean the community has really embraced me and made me feel comfortable, from my billets to my teammates. Then there’s the coaches Blake (Spiller) and Paul (Harland), they set me up for success by playing me to my strengths, they relied on me that allowed me to contribute to the team. Having their confidence gave me confidence. Putting it all together, I feel comfortable and with that, I feel like I’ve played very well with still another level or two go to heading into this season.”
In 44 games his first year with Portage, Scherr popped in 2 goals and added 15 assists while piling up 103 penalty minutes. In his 19-year-old season, he elevated his production to 7 goals, 29 assists in 57 games while amassing 133 penalty minutes.
“I’ve never really been that much of a skilled player my whole life growing up”, he says with a bit of a laugh noting his game has become more well-rounded since joining the Terriers. “Last season, it was kind of nice, I was put in a position to play power play and get some points, but I also was able to penalty kill and contribute that was, too. I want to be a good defender for our team. It helps I’m a bigger body and that’s maybe where the penalty minutes come in, I like to get into the rough stuff here and there. But for the most part, the older I get and the more experience I gain, it helps me identify the areas of my game that I need to work on. It’s nice to see the work paying off and my game getting better in every way.”
As many memories that have been and will be made on the ice, Scherr says it’s the things away from the rink that he cherishes the most. “Being a part of the Portage community has been one of if not the very best parts of playing for the Terriers. Starting with my billets, I have two young billet brothers who play hockey, and they are part of Portage minor hockey, they’re so much fun to hang out with and it makes my life in Portage and playing away from home so special. I’ve been involved in the past with reading to kids or going to classrooms and now I have a job at the local high school, which I absolutely love. I love being involved in the community; I know many people and feel so at home. It’s a great environment. It’s a bonus when the Terriers are winning.”
Scherr jokes that while the community is going to be something he remembers, there’s one fan in particular that will always make him smile. “Oh, the Golden Boy”, Scherr says with a laugh. “Every once and a while you’ll play somewhere or play for a team that has a sort of super fan, but Golden Boy is the most dedicated and most awesome fan I’ve ever met. I’ve had a few conversations with him and he’s so personable, so fun to know and fun to talk to. I’m not just speaking for myself, it makes mine and my teammates day when we see him at the rink, supporting us every home game. His energy, how loud he is,it makes us want to win and do good. It’s awesome having him there.”
Heading into his final year of junior, Scherr says he appreciates the MJHL having events that get’s more in-person eyes on players like himself. “It’s unbelievable, for 20-year-olds it’s our last year, our last shot to get noticed, so for the MJHL to put on these events, it creates a good opportunity for us to go to the next level. It’s exciting, getting paired up with players you wouldn’t normally play with and go up against players you wouldn’t play against. I’ve been lucky to be a part of a few showcases and it’s been fantastic, they’ve treated me really well and it’s just a fun event. It’s high compete and we appreciate the league giving us a chance to showcase ourselves.”
Coming out of the tunnel as captain, the ultra-competitive Scherr says before going to battle with those wearing Terrier green, he will soak in the moment. “I think all the emotions of the last home opener at the junior-A level will come. I don’t know if I’ll want them to come, but I think they will anyway. It will be a good feeling but also a sad feeling at the same time. I think there will be a sense of accomplishment and I’m looking forward to it and hopefully the season can go well. Coming out for a home playoff games will be really where it’s at and that’s what we want.”
Portage opens the regular season on the road vs the Neepawa Titans September 21st with their home-opener set for the next night, in a return matchup against the Titans.
