When the University of Saskatchewan lock-up with the University of Regina in men's hockey this season, as they did Saturday in Regina, it is almost like a Yorkton Terrier Junior 'A' alumni contest.
The UofR Cougars have four former Terriers on the roster including recent Royal Bank Cup winning players Devon McMullen and Tyler Giebel, who join John Neibrandt and Austin Bourhis, already veterans of the Cougar program.
The UofS Huskies add recent Terrier grad Tayler Thompson, and recent Huskie recruit Torey Stott to the mix, along with assistant coach Jason Wagar.
While all accomplished players when with the Terriers, they all agree the college game is played at another level.
"The biggest difference is the size and speed of guys you never have an easy battle or play. You can't take a shift off or you will pay," said McMullen.
McMullen is enrolled in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies. He played four seasons for the Terriers (SJHL) where he recorded 18 goals and 74 points in 214 career games.
Thompson, who is enrolled at the College of Arts & Science in Saskatoon, said he knows the level of play is better, although he feels he is making the adjustment well.
"It hasn't been too much of an adjustment going into the college game," he said, adding at the same time "players are now grown men so they are just all that much stronger and faster."
Giebel, who is enrolled in the Faculty of Arts, played three seasons as a member of the Terriers where he registered 57 goals and 106 points in 127 career games. He had 38 points in 36 career playoff games.
Building on his Terrier resume, Giebel said he is starting to fit in as a Cougar already.
"It seems like I'm getting more comfortable after every time I'm on the ice," said Giebel. "It's a lot faster than Junior and the guys are bigger, stronger.
"Making decisions a lot more quickly is something you have to adapt to also."
Giebel said Canadian college is competitive because it attracts many top players from various leagues.
"CIS hockey is very good hockey," he said, "a very high level of hockey with a lot of very good top players coming out of Junior or the WHL (Western Hockey League) that could possibly be playing pro but choose school as their best route.
"In my mind it's most likely a top league in Canada."
McMullen is in agreement CIS hockey is not as appreciated as it should be.
"Yes it's a very good league," he said. "It doesn't get the coverage it should for how many good players are in the league."
Thompson said the games are certainly different, with both Junior 'A' and college offering their own style of hockey.
"CIS is a very good league but it's hard to compare college to Junior. It's much faster, more skill and less physical play I have found so far," he said.
Bourhis, who played two seasons for the Terriers in 2009-10 and 2012-13 with 42 points in 103 games, and 8 points in the playoffs said Canadian college hockey doesn't get the respect it probably deserves.
"I believe CIS is very good hockey and is only getting better," he said. "It's really an underrated league."
Bourhis played in 17 Canada West games for the Cougars last season registering his first-career point on a goal in a 5-1 win over Mount Royal (Oct. 25, 2013). He added an assist later in the game.
Bourhis finished the season with two goals and six points, and totaled 25-shots on net and 61 penalty minutes.
And there is more to the jump to college than on ice performance.
"I find the game is quicker and the guys are stronger. You definitely need to make those decisions on the ice a lot faster," said Bourhis.
"Then there's the off-ice responsibilities you need to keep in order, if your grades aren't good you can't play. That's a big change."
Neibrandt, who is enrolled in the Faculty of Science, played in 20 games during last season's Canada West schedule. His first-career point with the Cougars came in a 6-0 win over Lethbridge (Oct. 11, 2013), when he registered an assist, his only point of the season.
The rangy rearguard said balancing hockey and college classes was as big a change from his Junior days as the style of hockey.
As a 20-year-old in Junior it was basically practice with the Terriers and have the rest of the day to himself. He appeared with the Terriers in 2009-10 and 2012-13, scoring 14 points in 81 games.
In college there are classes to attend, in addition to practices with the Cougars.
"It was definitely a big change last year. It was hard to get used to," he said.
McMullen said school is part of the package.
"I always enjoyed school," he said, adding he took a couple of courses last season while in Yorkton to help him get back into the groove of cracking books.
"Of course there's a lot more courses this year," he said with a grin.
Thompson suggested it comes down to dealing with the clock.
"It's a big adjustment. It's definitely a time management skill," he said, adding there is far less time to just hang out and do nothing than there was as a senior player in the Junior ranks.
The three rookies among the Terrier alumni at Saskatchewan universities have kept their focus on the new season simple; to fit in and play.
"I haven't set to many personal goals yet I have never been a guy to look at points as a reflection so my goals are just being a good all-around player which can be trusted on the ice, win battles and what not," said Giebel.
McMullen agreed with his teammate.
"Fitting in the Cougars has been pretty easy," he said, adding "all the guys welcomed me. It's a close team which is awesome, and on the ice just doing what has been asked of me."
"As a rookie I've been fortunate we lost so many veteran centreman from the year before so I've been able to play in all situations this far," offered Thompson of his Huskie start. "This season I want to earn myself a spot in the top-six and win another national championship."
"I don't like to set many goals in stone," offered Giebel. "I feel like my main goal is to be in the line-up consistently, and be a contributing player in different situations.
(And), "focusing on school just as much as hockey would be one of my main goals this year."
So, what of the Saskatchewan rivalry between the Cougars and Huskies?
Bourhis said it might not quite match that of the Terriers and Melville Millionaires in the SJHL.
"I don't think there are too many rivalries as big as the Mils/Terriers," he said. "But there is some fire between U of S and us. Always a good time."
While new to the college rivalry Thompson said he too doubted it would match the Highway 10 battles.
"Being this new to the rivalry it's hard to tell, but I don't think it is one that will top Yorkton and Melville," he said. "That's a pretty special rivalry."
Giebel said a university rivalry is natural, but matching the Mills and Terriers will take some doing.
"I know that there is a rivalry between the U of R and the U of S; being so close to one another," he said, but added "it's tough for me to say without being around this league for very long, but we all know what kind of rivalry Yorkton and Melville have so I can't imagine its anything like the Highway 10 battle. We'll have to wait and see."
McMullen said he would give the new rivalry a chance to match the intensity of his Junior days.
"I haven't got the full taste of the rivalry yet but after this weekend I'm sure it will be right up there with the Yorkton/Melville one, just instead of towns it's schools," he said.
