For the first time in the five year history of the Sooner hockey club, a new voice will be calling the line changes on the ice.

Tom Murphy, a ten year assistant coach on the junior hockey circuit, takes over the reigns from Larry Donovan, the only coach the Sooner hockey club has ever had.

But Murphy is not entirely new to the Sooners’ roster. He has seen many of the same players in junior leagues and believes his first gig as a college coach will be an easy transition because of his players’ maturity.

“Ninety percent of these guys played junior hockey and I either coached or scouted them in the junior ranks,” Murphy said. “They are more mature as players. They have more on their plate than junior hockey players because they have to juggle class, homework and hockey all at the same time.”

Donovan will remain with the team as an assistant coach and as the team general manager. He stepped down from the head coaching position because he wants to watch his 18-year-old son — who was drafted by the New York Islanders and will be playing hockey at the University of Denver.

Under Donovan, the Sooners made the playoffs every season of their five-year history. OU finished sixth in the American Collegiate Hockey Association last season.

The Sooners are now 3-1 this season, with the only loss coming against No. 4 Liberty University. They are coming off a two-game series against Texas Tech this weekend that saw them outscore the Red Raiders 14-3.

Murphy’s job has been significantly easier because the team returns 22 of its 26 players.

“It’s always nice to have that veteran leadership out there,” said junior defenseman and co-captain Austin Miller. “Everybody that played last year has a year under their belt.”

Last year, the 22 returning players faced a difficult exit from the second round of the playoffs. Only 37 seconds into overtime, the Sooners lost the puck in their end, leading to a break-away goal for the University of Delaware.

“Last year we finished sixth at nationals and we were disappointed,” Miller said. “I think we have added positive pieces to the puzzle so I think our expectations are higher than last year.”

Among those pieces are four new freshmen, each fresh out of junior hockey leagues.

“Coming to a team with a lot of returning players, you need to show that you deserve to play here so you’re going to face a lot of pressure,” freshman goalie Matt Pombo said.

Pombo is expected to alternate starts with junior goalie Chad Helgason.

With the combination of new and old faces, the Sooners know they will have to blend well to get to the national tournament for a sixth straight season.

“This is our team,” Donovan said. “This is a team sport and a team atmosphere. So when we win nationals, we will all be happy.”