Reid Campbell knows what it takes to win a national championship and he's got two rings to prove it.

The 5'10”, 190-pound defenceman from Haines Junction was a key member of the St. Norbert College Green Knights championship run this past season.

The Green Knights defeated Oswego State University 4-1 to capture the NCAA Division III

championship, their third title in the last five years.

With the victory, the team became only the third program in tournament history to repeat as titlists.

After capturing the championship last season, the Green Knights graduated 11 of their senior players and began the year slowly, collecting a 7-4-4 record at the halfway point.

In the second half of the season the team came to life, posting a 14-1-1 record down the stretch.

After defeating Gustavus Adolphus College 4-1 in the national quarterfinals, St. Norbert earned a berth into their eighth NCAA Division III Frozen Four.

The team packed their bags and traveled from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Lake Placid, NY to compete in the semifinals at the Herb Brooks Arena.

The Green Knights entered the playoffs as the fifth ranked team and faced the number-one seed the Norwich University Cadets in the semifinals.

The Cadets entered the game with the most potent offense in the nation but the Green Knights stifled their attack, limiting them to just one goal in a decisive 4-1 victory.

In the national championship, St. Norbert made their presence felt early when forward Cody Keefer buried a wrist shot into the back of the net just 17 seconds into the game.

The Green Knights carried that momentum throughout the rest of the game and preserved the lead with an impenetrable defence over the final period.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Green Knights, underdogs entering the playoffs, emerged as the national champions for the second consecutive season.

"It's an experience that you can't really put words to,” Campbell told the Star just minutes before he was set to take the field in Appleton, Wisconsin with his teammates and their national trophy to throw out the first pitch for a Division A baseball game.

"Just getting to the final game is the hardest thing to do. You have to take it one game at a time and to get to the national championship is an honour in itself. To come out with the win is incredible.

"It's an awesome feeling and we had a great group of guys this year. I couldn't ask for a better way to end the season.”

In Campbell's freshmen season he joined a team that was already molded and set in place. His role was to find his place within an established system.

This past season, he was a leader.

"Reid is a terrific young man,” said St. Norbert head coach Tim Coghlin. "He's a salt of the earth kind of guy, he'll do anything for you. He's got a big heart and his work ethic is phenomenal.

"We had a really strong defensive core last year and this year he's assumed a lot of the responsibility for the leadership on the backend. He kills penalties and plays in all the critical situations. We often match him up against the other team's best player.”

The combination of entering the playoffs as an underdog and having an increased role with the team made this championship even sweeter said Campbell.

"Personally this year feels just a little bit better,” he said.

"Going from where we were to where we needed to be, we really came together as a team. We battled a bit more adversity. Being the fifth place team in the nation and beating the number one and two seeds made it feel that much better.”

Coghlin said the team's slow start to the season wasn't unexpected.

"We had to establish a new goaltender, we had to develop new defencemen and

we had to get the combinations right up front,” he said.

"There was no reason to expect we'd go 14-1-1 down the stretch but it all clicked at the right time, we established the goaltender, and the rotation in the backend and the forward mix came together.”

The core of the team will remain intact next season as only one defenceman and three forwards will be graduating from the program.

"The mantra next year will be ‘how do you handle success,'” said Coghlin.

"In Reid's time here all we've done is win national championships, he's been here two years and he's got two rings. I've been here for 20 years and I've got three.

"We're going to have to manage our success level and get guys to buy into the commitment and dedication, you have to be able to handle the rigors of the school load and everything else.”

Because of his leadership and commitment on and off the ice, Campbell will be named one of the team's captains next season, when they aim to win their third straight national title.

"Reid's a worker,” said Coghlin, who ranks second among the 100 winningest college men's ice hockey coaches with a winning percentage of .757.

"He's a little cowboy sometimes, he gets a rouse out of the room but as a coach I know if I need to get something done I can always lean on Reid.”

Campbell spent four years playing hockey in Whitehorse, moved on to Fort St. John for midget hockey and then spent four years anchoring the defence for Powell River of the BCHL before lacing up for the Golden Knights.

"Even if I don't wear a letter, the way I am as a player is trying to be a leader on and off the ice and be one of the hardest working guys on the team,” he said.

"If the guys need someone to talk to or get them out of a rut I will definitely be a guy they can turn to.”

Campbell's solid play has not gone unnoticed.

He was named to the all-American second-team in addition to being recognized with Northern Collegiage Hockey Association all-conference honours.

Two awards he never expected to win.

"I just go out there and try and bring that physical role and be solid back there,” he said.

"I'm not a huge point getter I just bring leadership and physicalness and try and be a solid defenceman against other teams' top lines.”

Campbell said winning consecutive national titles stands as the highlight of his young career so far.

"I went back-to-back in BCHL finals and lost both times and that was heartbreaking,” he said. "So to come here and win twice in two years is a feeling I can't describe. I'd like to go back and win it again next year.”

With the core of the team returning next season there's no reason to believe that the Green Knights can't compete for their third straight title.

No matter what happens, Campbell will be in the center of the action as a veteran presence, team leader and defensive anchor.

A situation that suits Coghlin just fine.

"Reid is the kind of the kid that no matter the situation you can throw him out there and he's got the hockey smarts to make the right decision every time,” he said.

"He's a tough, hard-nosed hockey player and a pleasure to have.

"He's a great kid.”