Terriers mature into Cougars

If you are a Terrier hockey fan and you happen to head down Highway 16 to Bredenbury to take in a senior hockey game you will be in for a treat, as you will see a number of familiar faces now wearing Cougar colours.

Five former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Terriers are now playing with the Cougars in the Triangle Hockey League.

The Cougars are led offensively by Justin Keller and Josh Garbutt.

Keller, who is the only Terrier to ever win an SJHL scoring title, is still putting up the big offensive numbers, topping the THL's regular season scoring with 42 goals and 69 points in 20 games.

Garbutt was actually on a better pace. Lined up with Keller, but playing in only 13 games Garbutt had 26 goals and 50 points.

Keller said while the THL is certainly competitive hockey, playing is more about the experience now.

"I think it's just coming out with a bunch of the boys. It's getting together and playing the game you love to play," he said before the Cougars hosted Rocanville in Game One of their semifinal series Saturday.

Garbutt said having four fellow Terriers on the Cougars is certainly a bonus, adding it gives them a common background which binds them as friends.

"As you can see there are a bunch of us that played together with the Terriers," he said, adding there remains a connection "especially after the years we had in Yorkton."

Garbutt said the former Terriers still remain like-minded on their view of hockey.

"All of us still have that competitive edge," he said. "We want to come out and still play hard, but have a good time too."

In Keller's case he is nine years removed from playing with the Terriers, having played professionally for a time in the United States after his Junior years, his last pro year winning a championship with Knoxville in the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Keller said he had always wanted to go out a winner, and after the championship realized he'd had enough of pursuing a pro career, so headed home.

But when Andy Katzberg, a former SJHL Weyburn Red Wing, suggested senior hockey Keller jumped at the chance to still play.

And it helps that the hockey is still of a high calibre.

"It's a really good team," said Keller. "There's a lot of former Junior players and some guys that could have, or should have played Junior."

Having a competitive edge to the game is important to players who have always played the game to win.

"Whenever you go out it's going to be competitive. We're going to play to win," said Keller, adding the day he loses the desire to compete "will be the end for me."

On defence Dustin Nehring and Kirk Byczynski are paired for the Cougars, the former Terriers logging yeoman minutes.

Nehring has 30 points in 17 games played.

Nehring is a veteran of Senior hockey now, having toiled with the Theodore Buffs for four seasons. When that team took a year's leave-of-absence, he moved to the Cougars.

Nehring said camaraderie certainly factors into wanting to play.

"Basically it's a good group of guys here," he said, adding that works in consort with the fact "I've still got that love for the game I still like to get out on weekends and throw that puck around."

While Nehring still wants to play the game, he admits "every year it gets a little bit tougher. The recovery process is a lot longer than it used to be, but a guy just makes it work."

It helps that Nehring is partners in his own business, so it's a bit easier to convince the boss (himself) to let him get away early on Fridays to travel, or get a few pre-game winks.

Garbutt agreed the game gets harder.

"It takes a toll on the body," he said, but added he has no plans to retire just yet.

"As long as my wife lets me, and my body holds up, I'll play," he said.

Byczynski comes to the Cougars more naturally, having grown up in Bredenbury.

"Of course we wanted to grow up to be Cougars," he said of his days as a young player.

So when Byczynski moved home last year it was a natural to lace up the skates with the Senior team, adding having former Terriers on the team is a bonus.

"It's great to play with friends I've met over the years playing with Yorkton," he said, adding it surprises him that the other former Terriers have committed to the team as they have. " Honestly I couldn't believe these guys would come to play with us.

"So of course it's a thrill to be able to play with friends, and enjoy myself out there."

Still the real reason for Byczynski is that the Cougars matter locally.

"It seems like we have the whole town behind us," he said, adding there is a pride that comes with wearing the Cougar jersey for a hometown boy.

Byczynski said there is a pride which makes a town like Bredenbury what it is.

That's why Byczynski, along with Cougar teammates Lindsay Thompson, Tanner Burman, Justin Morrison, Robert Mus, and Chad Byczynski will be cutting their hair for Close Cuts for a Cure. Kirk said the clipping will likely take place at the team wind-up, and added donations can be made through the team.

In goal for the Cougars Kevin Dziaduck drives from Sylvan Lake, AB. for games, a short trip on 900-miles, on way.

But when Dziaduck is in net the Cougars are that much stronger. While he started only five regular season games, they were all wins, with a 2.20 goals allowed per game, nearly a full goal better than anyone in the league.

Dziaduck said there is a highly competitive Senior loop in Alberta which he played in for a couple of seasons with Bentley, but the schedule wasn't working this season.

"That league is very competitive. You need to be fully committed," he said.

So when Dziaduck was asked to play with the Cougars, he said yes, adding it is a natural fit since he owns farmland in the Buchanan area and intends to move home this year.

"So I just got an early start," he said.

But that is still an 1,800 mile round trip.

Dziaduck said the other ex-Terriers make the miles worthwhile.

"It's getting to go out on the ice with them It feels like we're back in Junior again," he said.

And Dziaduck said he still wants to play the hockey.

"It's just the enjoyment of the game, and that you can still do it," he offered, adding he knows "there is going to come a day when I realize I can't step on the ice anymore."

But that day isn't yet.

"We've got a good team here," he said, adding he hopes the Cougars go all the way to a championship, the ultimate goal in any league.

In the end one thing keeps all five involved.

"I think the biggest thing is I just really like playing the game," said Keller. "It comes down to the point I like putting on the skates and going out and having a good game."

Nehring said Senior hockey is really about a bunch of guys who still love the competitive side of the game.

"I think it shows how much a guy supports and loves the game," he said.

"It's the competition. I think that's why I play," he offered, adding the Triangle Hockey League still has an edge to it. "This league guys still get to hit and scrap. There's still that competitive side.

"It's not too far off from Junior back in the day."

For Byczynski it's a case of love.

"I just love hockey. That's why I'm still doing this, or else I could be somewhere else," he said.