The hometown hero for many young Portage Terrier fans this year is team captain Logan Calder.

The 20-year-old has been enjoying a stellar season in all aspects and is the only player left from the 2019 ANAVET Cup-winning team. Calder has cherished this season even more than most due to last year's hiatus.

"It was weird because I've played competitive hockey all winter for as long as I can remember," Calder explains. "Getting a break that was that long definitely felt weird, but I was just trying to keep myself busy, with all the free time I had. So, the biggest thing was just trying to fill all the time that hockey usually took up."

Calder says he spent a good portion of that time with family and working out at the gym. He adds while it was a hard adjustment, he developed a better relationship with his family during the pandemic, which he says he is extremely grateful for. The team captain describes what it was like when they finally came back for training camp this year.

"It's always great to come back. Getting to meet the new guys and see the old guys again is something I always look forward to," says Calder. "After the break, it was really nice to get back onto the ice and start skating with them again."

The Portager says growing up here, it was hard not to be a Terrier fan and notes it was an honour just to play for the Dogs' but adds being named captain was on another level.

"Being named captain in my final year was a great feeling. It's not only me though, I also have some great guys in that room who help me, even if they don't have a letter on their chest," says Calder. "There's always guys who are there if I need help settling the team down or talking to anyone."

Calder has been producing at a very high rate offensively as he is placed 12th in the MJHL in total points. The local forward has 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points in 30 games so far this year. He also has the longest point streak in the MJHL this season with 13 games and ended 2021 on another point streak, putting up 12 in his last seven contests.

He outlines what has helped him excel this season.

"Anytime you come into a new season, you want to make a big impact," Calder explains. "This year I was just trying to focus on being more confident with the puck and just trying to play my game. It's seemed to have worked out. I've gotten some good linemates to play with throughout the year so far and everything's clicking with them right now."

Calder has played alongside Daniel Siso and Matt Wisener for a good portion of the season and they have found their groove offensively as of late. Siso and Wisener both are on point streaks of their own at the moment, with Siso scoring in ten straight contests and Wisener in nine. Calder outlines what it is like playing with those two.

"They're great guys to play with. It makes playing the game a lot easier when we're all going. I have so much confidence in those two, and it's a really good feeling playing with two guys you're comfortable with," says Calder. "I can't say enough good things about playing with them. We know where each other is going to be, and we've become confident and comfortable playing with each other."

Over the last twelve games, the Terriers have a record of 9-2-1, and Calder says the new guys have started to find their role and understand how to play at the MJHL level now. He says this has made a big difference. The captain notes it took a little longer than they anticipated to get to this point but he believes they are a force to be reckoned with.

He says they have to maintain the same mentality into 2022.

"I think we just have to keep this momentum but not get too high on ourselves. It's always nice to get on a win streak but we have to remember that any team in the league can be beaten on any night," Calder continues. "So, just because we're hot doesn't mean we can take any team lightly."

Calder notes he has high hopes for what the team can accomplish in 2022 and is focused on getting into the playoffs and making a run when they're there. He says personally, his main goal is to keep doing what he has been doing.

"I just want to keep playing good hockey," says Calder. "I'm going to try to just play confident and do all the little things right. I want to continue showing the younger guys what it takes to play in this league for four years and just be a good leader overall too."