The Portage Islanders and Notre Dame Hawks kick off the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League Championship Final tonight.

"It's impressive what we've been able to accomplish in two years in the league," says Jeremy Brooks, Islanders General Manager. "The community has really been behind us since we started, and as word gets out more and more people are coming out to support us. It really is nice to see."

Last year Portage was eliminated by the Beavers in the Semi-final. They needed all seven games to get by them this season, while the Hawks advanced in six over Warren. The Islanders and Notre Dame have met three times this season. The Islanders won twice, once in regulation and once in overtime, they fell to the Hawks in a shootout when Portage came back and scored two goals in the final minute to tie the game at six.

"We're expecting a long and exciting series here with the Hawks," says Brooks. "It's the same situation we knew we were getting into with Carman. I think we showed a lot about ourselves -- and learned a lot about ourselves as well in the Semi-final -- so we're excited to carry on the momentum into this next series."

The Islanders won three straight games to take out the Beavers and had the longest win streak of the year at nine in the first half of this season. Brooks feels they've found their form again.

"Moods are pretty high right now, and everyone seems pretty confident in themselves, and their game," adds Brooks. "Everything seems to be firing on all cylinders right now so we just need to carry it into tonight's game and be ready to go from the start."

Game 1 is tonight in Notre Dame. Puck drop is set for 8:30.