Terrier trio in Frozen Four tourney

When the NCAA held it Division I hockey championship this past weekend there was a definite Yorkton Terrier aspect, as three former members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League took part.

Michael Trebish, a Yorkton native, and Justin Buzzeo played with Ferris State, while Greg Coburn skated with Union College in this year's Frozen Four.

Trebish, who played with the Terriers from 2006 through to the spring of 2008, said last week he was looking forward to the tournament.

"Everyone is excited to be heading down to Tampa (Bay)," he told Yorkton This Week. "For some guys, along with myself, this will be the first time traveling this far south."

While a new locale, the four-year Bulldog said the trip is about winning, not sightseeing.

"As for the mood, we still have a job to do and winning the National Championship is the first thing on our to-do list," said Trebish.

Buzzeo, a late-season acquisition by the Terriers in 2011, said excitement surrounds being part of the Frozen Four.

"The mood on the team right now it excited, it's great to see everyone like this but there is still work to be done," he said. "Heading to Tampa for the Frozen Four is a goal that we had at the beginning of the season and now we are living it, it is a great accomplishment."

Coburn, a three year Terrier, who joined Union in the fall of 2009, said his team just wants to get into action.

"The mood of our team is relaxed and anxious to just start playing hockey," he said. "There is a lot of media excitement surrounding the Frozen Four so we want to enjoy it but at the same time stay focused on the main reason we are here, to win a championship."

For Trebish and Coburn being in the Frozen Four together, albeit on opposing teams, adds something to the experience.

"It is special that me and Greg Coburn have made it to Tampa," said Trebish. "I'm sure we have traveled different paths to get here over the season, but here we are.

"It is certainly going to be special to play against him though in the semi-final. It is too bad that we could not meet up in the final game for the National Championship, but that is just the way things go.

"I wish him the best."

The teams met in the semi finals with Coburn having an assist but Ferris State winning the game 3-1 to advance to the championship final where they succumbed to Boston College 4-1.

Coburn said the SJHL is well-represented at the tournament.

"Playing against Trebish and Ferris State adds to the experience of the Frozen Four," he said. "They have a few former SJHL player on their team so it is cool to be able to play against some players I used to play with and against in Yorkton."

The experience of the Frozen Four, in terms of hockey, is huge for all the players.

"Being part of the Frozen Four definitely is one of the better moments I have experienced in my hockey career," said Trebish. "This ranks up there with the trip to the RBC with the Yorkton Terriers back in 2006."

"Making it to the frozen four would have to be right up there at the top of the list, it is the biggest stage I have ever been on personally and it doesn't get much better than this," echoed Buzzeo, a Windsor, Ont. native. "Competing to be the best school in the nation is something special, not every hockey player gets a chance take part in an event like this."

It was the same for Coburn, born in Shaunavon, SK.

"I feel that this experience has been the best thus far in my career," he said.

While a lot ride on the results on the ice, heading into the tournament the players were trying to keep things in focus regarding their preparation.

"We expect to win at the Frozen Four," said Coburn. "We have prepared similar to every set of games throughout our season. The Frozen Four games obviously mean more but we are approaching it the same as we have all year long."

At this point it's too-late to change a lot, said Buzzeo.

"We have to approach these games just as we did for the last couple in Green Bay, we can't change too much up," he said. "We know what is at stake. Everyone did a good job of staying focused at practice this week giving us the best opportunity to do what we came here for.

"As far as expectations I did not know what to expect and neither does anyone else on the team considering no one has ever been to an event like this. Being in Tampa at an event like this is one of the best experiences of my life that I will never forget."

Trebish said it's a case of going with the emotion of the moment.

"I expect us to take everything in stride while we are down here," he offered, adding it's a case of concentrating on hockey. "There is lots going on around us with all the media and fans around that it is hard to find some downtime.

"As for preparing, we have been preparing for this weekend all season long. All we need to do now is embrace the moment and have our best effort of the season."

Trebish said being in the Frozen Four is what American college teams set as the ultimate goal each season, a goal achieved by taking smaller steps along the way.

"It is always an expectation to be successful when previewing the season," he said. "First and foremost, winning a regular season title was definitely a goal of ours, which we managed to complete in the last weekend of the season.

"A second goal would be the make it to the CCHA Championship game at Joe Louis Arena.

"Unfortunately, we had a little mishap against Bowling Green the weekend before and lost in a three-game series."

Trebish said it was a bump in the road the Bulldogs had to play through.

"We knew we were not out though and that we would have another chance to redeem ourselves and save our season in the NCAA tournament," he said.

"Looking back, we took the opportunity and ran with it and it has paid off with us being one of the last four college hockey teams in the country.

Buzzeo said teams know the Frozen Four in the ultimate goal each season.

"I would say it was a goal more than an expectation, just the same as every other team that plays Division I hockey, everyone wants to win their league, then make the tournament, then go on to the Frozen Four," he said. "I think that our team has put in the work to be here right now and we deserve to be in the position we are. From summer workouts to the point we are at right now we have had a lot of ups and downs but we have always stuck together and continued to get better."

Coburn summed it up simply; "we set goals at the start of the year as a team. One of those goals was to win a National championship."

In terms of hockey, NCAA Division I is played at a high level.

"College hockey and the SJHL have some similarities," said Coburn. "The biggest difference that I have noticed is the speed of the game."

Buzzeo said the game is the best he has played.

"College Hockey obviously is the best hockey I have ever played the speed, the size, the skill everything about it, it is great," he said. "Comparing it to the SJ it is quite a bit different, every player is skilled, strong, and fast. You are playing against NHL draft picks and players that will be turning Pro in the future."

"The college game is certainly a step up from the SJHL," offered Trebish. "Guys are faster, stronger, and things happen quicker out on the ice.

"When you think of it, some of these players are going to become NHL'ers in the future. If not, have successful pro careers either in the U.S., or Europe, so the overall pace of the game is a step up from Junior A."

That said, Trebish added his time with the Terriers did set the foundation.

"I think the SJHL did prepare me well for the college game," he said. "There have been many players who have come out of the SJHL and had successful college careers. I think the SJHL has improved their recruiting process over the years in order to help showcase the players and move them on to either U.S. College or Canadian University."

Buzzeo said Junior coaching helped set the skills needed.

"Yeah I think the SJ did a good job of preparing me for college hockey," he said. "Last year coach Trent Cassan being a former college player did everything he could to get me ready. I remember from on ice, to off ice, he would talk with me about what to expect and how to make the transition which has really helped me in my game.

"As well I have to give a lot of credit to Dean Brockman my coach in Humboldt. When I was there for that year and half he did also did everything he could to prepare me to compete at the college level."

Buzzeo said the success of the SJHL in preparing players is mirrored in the Bulldogs roster.

"If you look at our team we have quite a few guys from the SJ, our starting goalie Taylor Nelson who has been outstanding for us all year, Jordie Johnston led our team in goals and points, Matt Kirzinger has been another skilled player who was probably our best two-way forward this year, and Mike Trebish a solid defensemen," he said.

Coburn too felt the SJHL was a good stepping stone.

"The SJHL has definitely prepared me for College Hockey," he said. "I feel it is the most rounded junior A league in Canada. I am very thankful that I was able to play my three-years of junior in the SJHL and more importantly in Yorkton."

Coburn said his year was solid, having five goals, and 14-points in 39 games.

"My season personally was good," he said. "Most important thing is how our team does. We won our league regular season title and league championship, now we're looking for our last goal, a national championship."

Buzzeo said his college season did not go as he might have hoped personally, but the team's success was a counterbalance for him.

"My season personally was not as I expected," he said. "I happened to get injured the first game of the season, breaking my ankle and tearing tendons in it so I have been out for the most part of the season.

"When I returned it took some time to adapt to the game as it was the first time I had ever been injured for such a long period of time.

"I feel I could have helped the team if I were to stay healthy all year, but these years happen and hopefully next year I will be able to come in a be a big part of the team.

"I could not ask for any better situation though being the regular season champions, winning the mid west regionals, and now being at the Frozen Four there is not much more I could ask for as a Freshmen."

The Frozen Four also puts an exclamation point on Trebish's college career.

"The season for me has been a memorable one," he said. "Being my fourth and final year, I am starting to realize that my time at university is beginning to come to an end and it's sad.

"You form a bond with your fellow class-men that you will have for the rest of your life. It is going to be hard to say goodbye to those guys, but a National Championship would definitely cap off my career at Ferris. I would not want it any other way."