If speed kills, then the Sooners are lethal.

When OU added five players for the second semester, they did more than fill out the roster. They added key pieces to a championship-level puzzle. With Nationals right around the corner (March 5-10), the Sooners are hitting their stride at the perfect time.

Junior forward Jesse Bryant completes the “Anchorage Connection” line, which is amongst the most talented in the ACHA. Bryant has posted 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 10 games. Bryant played in Alaska with his line-mates: junior forward Blake Martin and sophomore forward Brad McCabe.

Martin is an assistant captain and is second on the team with 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists). He leads by example on and off the ice; a majority of Martin’s team-leading 128 penalty minutes come from standing up for his teammates.

In “Big Cat” McCabe’s first year at OU, he leads the team with 22 goals and 30 assists. He’s extremely physical (92 penalty minutes), and helps set the tone for the entire team by making a big hit, and usually scoring a big goal, on nearly every shift.

“Playing with them (Martin and Bryant) is a privilege.” McCabe said. “I love playing with them. They get you the puck. They do the things you want them to do; ideal hockey guys.”

Friday night, down 1-0 to Indiana, McCabe stopped a Hoosier at the blue line, stole the puck and drove into the offensive zone. In one motion, he skidded to a stop, made a no-look pass to Bryant, and screened two defenders. Bryant sent a whistling slap shot into the net to tie the game.

Saturday night, McCabe scored 22 seconds into the second period. Later, he scored 20 seconds into a power play (35 seconds after an IU goal). These plays are not uncommon for the Anchorage Connection.

“I hate them,” senior goaltender Helgason said about what its like to face the first line in practice. “I just cannot stop these guys some days.”

OU also picked up freshman forward Chad Hudson, another speedster with a dynamite shot. He plays with sophomore forward Travis McKinney and another new Sooner, junior forward Billy Strain. Their line came alive with five goals and four assists over the weekend.

Junior forward Jarrod Yost (17 goals, 17 assists) and freshman forward Nic Power (11 goals, 21 assists) lead OU’s other two lines. Oklahoma has a difference maker (or two) on the ice at all times.

“We can run all four lines, constantly, and just wear teams down” Helgason said.

No. 7 OU plays at No. 13 Central Oklahoma Feb. 19 and hosts UCO Feb. 20. They host No. 6 Liberty Feb. 26 and 27 to finish the regular season.