Captain Erica Rieder had a lot to reminisce about when discussing her five years and over 160 games played with the Bison women's hockey team.

Interestingly though, one of the first names that came up was current assistant coach Maggie Litchfield-Medd, who wore the 'C' in her last season – and Rieder's first – at the U of M in 2014-15.

"Maggie is the best captain I've ever had. So being captain now, if anything comes up it's like, what would Maggie do?" the Regina native says.

"She was just a huge influencer in the dressing room. She was very passionate about hockey and our team and winning and wanting everyone to do their best. She could also see both sides of things, so she was very good at dealing with any sort of conflict or anything, but also pumping girls up if they're down. She was my biggest influence coming into the season."

Rieder also vividly recalls Manitoba's upset of UBC in the Canada West Semi-Finals that year as a highlight during her Bisons tenure. She had 11 points as an impact rookie that season, along with four more during the post-season.

Funny enough, one of those four points came from an assist on the game-winning OT goal in game two against the T-Birds to keep Manitoba's season alive. It was a glimpse of the present and the future, as Litchfield-Medd had the other assist on the goal, while fellow first-year and current power play quarterback Alexandra Anderson registered the tally.

"Going into B.C. it was like, can we do this? And that first year, we were good, but we were young, so there were no expectations. Just go in and play how you want to play. They're a strong team and it's hard to play in their barn and we went and won in overtime. It was so nice for the fifth-years especially."

Overtime excitement is also something Rieder and her fellow fifth-years have gotten used to while at the U of M. Since 2015, the Bisons have played in 17 playoff OT sessions, going 7-1 during that time span.

But it's the 2-1 five overtime victory on the road in the Saskatchewan during the first round of the 2015-16 conference playoffs that sticks out to the captain.

"That was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows all in one night. It was insanity. When we won that game, it was unbelievable. Every person in that game played their part, including our goalie Amanda Schubert who stood on her head."

Being in the position so many times over the years made last year's run to the national title that much more special. Rieder and company endured three straight overtime sessions, including an insane four OT victory over Alberta at home in the conference semis.

"On the bench, we looked at each other and went, we've been here before. We know how to do this. I like to make a year-end video at the end of each season, so at our year-end team party, I asked all the girls to put one word to describe the season and one person wrote down overtime. It's a common theme with our team."

But through it all, the former midget hockey league star hasn't forgotten the core fundamentals of what's gotten her to this point.

"Down to the core of everything, it's lead by example. I'm going out there and working hard every day and showing the rest of the girls that this is the standard and this is how we need to do things."

The 'standard' was set for Rieder in her first year by veterans such as Litchfield-Medd and fellow fifth-year Michelle Pawluk on the blue line.

"As a rookie I was nervous coming in. I didn't really know what to expect. There were so many of us rookies coming in, but the veterans did a good job of integrating us into the program. Me and Alanna Sharman were very tight with Michele and Maggie Litchfield-Medd. It was us four all the time, these little rookies who knew nothing about anything and these fifth-year vets that knew everything and were guiding us along."

Rieder – along with Anderson – now find themselves on the other end of things, amongst a blue line that also includes third-years Megan Neduzak and Jenai Buchanan, as well as second-years Lauren Warkentin and Brielle Dacquay-Neveux and first-year Chloe Snaith.

"We're different, but we complement each other," Rieder says of her fellow defenders.

"We've got some size for sure on the back end, but I think most of all we're really good skaters. I'd say in comparison to other teams, our back end is fast and we know how to skate and we all like to rush the puck. Those younger players, they also all came in in their rookie seasons and made an impact right off the bat. That was really big, especially last year for us."

While Rieder is looking for yet another run to nationals to cap off a stellar career, she never forgets to be grateful for the position she's in.

"I think that's the biggest thing now being a fifth-year. Sooner or later you're going to be on the outside looking in, so just enjoying the moment and savouring where you are is important."