Portage Terriers’ dream season just got a bit better ─ Blake Spiller has been named the CJHL Coach of the Year. Under Spiller’s careful guidance, Terriers lost only three games in regulation time this past season. The best-ever in the MJHL history.
“This is a fantastic honour for Blake and the Terrier organization,” MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis said. “It confirms the high-level of talent we have in our league both on the ice and on the bench.”
Spiller took over as head coach of Portage in 2006 and has been re-writing the record books ever since. No Terrier coach has won as many regular season games, playoff games or championships as Spiller.
A Portage la Prairie native, Blake first made a name for himself with the Terriers as a player in the early 80’s. Spiller played several seasons for the club, his final as team captain. He returned to the Terrier fold in 2001 as an assistant coach where he spent five years in that role. He got his chance in 2006 when he assumed the head coach’s role and the team has seen unprecedented success ever since.
The local product has led the Terriers to Turnbull Cup victories in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015. The 2014 – 2015 MJHL Coach of the Year had a record of 53 wins, 3 losses, 4 overtime losses and 110 pts finishing 25 points ahead of the second place Steinbach Pistons.
Congratulations to the Top Finalists for the 2014 CJHL Coach of the Year Award.
∙ Jason Clarke, Carleton Place Canadians, CCHL
∙ Jason McKee, Spruce Grove Saints, AJHL
∙ James Richmond, Aurora Tigers, OJHL
∙ Jason Tatarnic, Chilliwack Chiefs, BCHL
The CJHL awards recognize individual success in the 10 Junior A leagues across Canada including, Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender, Rookie of the Year, Top NHL Draft Prospect and Coach of the Year.
About the CJHL – The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of all 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada. The CJHL represents 129 teams and 2,900 players and has over 2,900 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college levels across North America. For the latest CJHL news and features, visit www.cjhlhockey.com and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey.
