Noah Wagner is hanging up the skates.
The Winnipegger was thrilled to play final season for the Portage Terriers and says there is not one other group of fellows he would’ve somewhat performed his last yr with. Wagner feels very fortunate to have the Centennial Cup event as his last reminiscence on the ice.
“I wish to say how proud I’m of our crew and the hassle we had on the Centennial Cup, particularly with how devastated we had been after the Virden loss (Recreation 7 of the MJHL semi-finals),” Wagner explains. “I feel that was among the finest stretches we have performed all season. We had been all bonding as a crew and transferring the puck very well. Everybody carried out their finest on the proper time however we simply fell brief.”
Wagner had his most efficient offensive season in his Junior A profession with the Terriers. He put up 21 factors in 43 video games with 58 penalty minutes. The ahead added six factors within the playoffs and performed in 5 of the six video games on the Centennial Cup.
He says the fan assist through the Centennial Cup will keep on with him for a lifetime. He says that is not the one main second that he’ll carry with him.
“Earlier than the Christmas break, we went on a little bit of a dropping streak (misplaced 5 out of 9). I do not assume we had even misplaced 4 video games all yr earlier than that,” Wagner continued. “We simply responded and went on an eight-game successful streak after that. We had a very good run and had a very good time proper after that. I feel that reveals what sort of crew we had been and the way shut we had been as a gaggle .”
Wagner battled by a shoulder damage this complete season, tearing it within the first recreation of the common season.
“I had a torn labrum. I damage it within the early run of the season and took a little bit little bit of a relaxation on it (he missed a month of motion). I wanted surgical procedure however did not wish to get it through the season ,” says Wagner. “I waited all through and pushed by it. I bought a brace for my shoulder, and the crew coach Gisele (Sutherland), did a very good job serving to me out. Now, getting surgical procedure helps out quite a bit within the offseason.”
The Terriers traded for Wagner all the way in which again in 2020 once they despatched Layne Toder to the Dauphin Kings. He solely performed two video games in Portage earlier than COVID-19 canceled the season, after which he moved to the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Johnstown Tomahawks final yr.
“I wasn’t positive if the MJHL was going to begin up once more due to COVID and all of that. I went over there, met a ton of recent mates, and was in a position to play a complete new fashion of hockey, principally,” Wagner explains. “Within the NAHL, there’s loads of pace and ability. It is sort of an entire totally different manner. It was good to adapt my recreation to that after which pay it ahead with my teammates in Portage and assist them out.”
By the point this season was over, Wagner says, he thought of Portage a second dwelling.
“The neighborhood was so welcoming. Anytime they’d see you across the metropolis, they’d discuss to you about how the season goes and say good luck. It is good when the crew you are enjoying for has followers who actually care. “
This was Wagner’s yr on the ice as he now plans to begin his subsequent chapter at Crimson River School, the place he’ll pursue carpentry.
Whereas he gained a plethora of data concerning the sport of hockey from his time with the Terriers, he notes loads of the teachings he realized will apply to the remainder of his life, as effectively.
“They only taught me off the ice find out how to be liable for the crew and be respectful locally. They preach that everybody locally is watching, so you must be respectful.”