Terriers travel home for holidays – PortageOnline.com
The Portage Terriers played their last game of the year on Wednesday and can now head home for the holidays.
Those trips home will be different for everyone on the team. Local players like Kian Calder and Ryan Botterill are likely to remain in Portage. Others like Austin Peters and Brandon McCartney take less than an hour to get home to Winnipeg, but some terriers have had quite the journey to see their friends and family.
Parker Scherr and Daniel Siso have both traveled across two provinces to get to their homes in Alberta. It took Blake Boudreau 1838 kilometers to return to his roots in Riverside, Ontario. Newly acquired Gavin Klaassen crossed the border and had a 1820-kilometer journey to Ypsilanti, Michigan.
The farthest traveler is Bailey Monteith, who drove home to Kamloops, BC, which is a 1862-kilometer journey.
“I’m flying home,” says Monteith. “I think it’s a 22-hour drive. That would be a bit too much if I only have seven days. It goes back much faster that way.”
Monteith had a connecting flight in Calgary but notes that he left for Kamloops at 9am and was able to arrive there at 2pm after catching a connecting flight in Calgary. The goalkeeper notes that seeing his family is always a great way to reset.
“Any time with the family where you’ve been away as long as I have or we as a team, apart from the locals, I think will be nice. But it’s never going to feel like enough,” explains Monteith. “I’m itching to get going again in the second half of the year, but it’s never going to feel enough (family time). You always feel like you’re still with your family want to be, but I’m just as excited to head into the second half of the season as I’m home.”
The 20-year-old has spent the last four seasons away from home, playing for a variety of teams in British Columbia and moving to Manitoba last season. Monteith adds that playing in different environments can be beneficial for development.
“When I first came to Manitoba, it was hard to get used to right away, but I love it. It’s become like a second home to me, but I’d be lying if I told you I don’t miss home a lot, too,” Monteith continues. “Family time is definitely missed, but I look forward to having some of that family time while I’m home.”
Monteith adds that he and his family don’t have too many big holiday traditions, but he’s glad they do.
“Last year at Christmas we didn’t have a big Christmas dinner. It was just my grandma, my mother and me. My grandmother’s family is Ukrainian. We might only have perogies that night. It was definitely something simple. We tried to keep it a little more low key last year and I’m looking forward to that. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Family time is all I seek Pro.”
Monteith and the Terriers return to action on January 6th when they welcome the top seeded Steinbach Pistons to Stride Place.
