When the University of New Brunswick (UNB) won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) University Cup March 27, a familiar face to local hockey fans was among those celebrating the 4-0 win over McGill University.
Dion Campbell, a former member Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League player with both the Yorkton Terriers and Melville Millionaires was a member of the UNB squad.
"Yes it definitely is one of my highlights, along with winning the '09 National championship and winning in Yorkton," said Campbell of the victory.
The game was televised which was good news for family and friends back here in Saskatchewan, and added to the excitement of the game as a player.
"I was fortunate to play on TV when we won it in '09 here, so I knew what it was like," said Campbell. "But again it's amazing. Winning the final game was huge. The city and fans were electric. It was amazing in front of the home fans.
"The emotion was high, right when we saw the 10 seconds left on the clock we all took a deep breath and were happy the battle was over."
It was the conclusion to a season in which the team was expected to be right where they ended up, in the hunt for the championship.
"This season we went 23 - 5 record in the AUS (Atlantic University Sport)," said Campbell. "We were ranked number-one in the country all year.
"We definitely had high expectations to go far. Here at UNB they demand the best in the classroom and on the ice.
"Every year we have to be contenders for the title."
While the team excelled through the regular season, Campbell admitted his own year was off just a bit.
"I think this season I finished with six-goals, seven-assists in 22 games," he said. "I missed some of the year due to injury and illness. Obviously not my most productive year on the score sheet, next season should be better bigger role, higher expectations."
As much as the regular season went well, Campbell said the playoffs were not easy.
"Yeah the playoffs were challenging there are a lot of great teams in our conference and we knew we would have tough games," he said. "We beat Acadia in four-games, controlled those games pretty well.
"Then we met the St.Fx (St. Francis Xavier University) Axemen in the final which was back and forth hockey which went to game-five in OT. We won the game and our league in OT quite an experience.
"The biggest challenges we faced were great opponents, we knew to be successful we would have to be 100 per cent committed."
In the end Campbell said the playoffs overall, rather than a single moment, stand out for him.
"My personal playoff highlight even though there are lots throughout the run, but just winning was the best part of it," he said. "I never won the AUS before and it was amazing.
"Then obviously nationals was pretty amazing too."
While a long way from home, Campbell said he ended up at UNB because of the hockey and educational excellence of the university.
"After my final season in the SJ, I was seeing what school and hockey program seemed best," he said. "I watched UNB play and really was wowed by how good they were.
"Then I was on the phone with UNB coach Gardnier MacDougal. He gave me a scholarship and I've been here three years."
And he'll be back for one more season too.
"Right now I've got another season left here and graduate with a KIN (kinseology) degree," said Campbell. "Post next year I will weigh my options and decide to try pro, or stay another year and get a second degree in education."
