Ty Barnstable is back where his junior A career started.

On Jan. 2, the rookie was dealt to the , the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champs, for Taylor Sanheim as the Penticton Vees coveted the experience Sanheim has after being released from the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League.

鈥淭aylor is a hard-nosed, physical player, who brings plenty of experience with him and we feel those elements will help solidify our forward group as we gear up for what hopefully will be a long playoff run,鈥� said Vees coach-GM Fred Harbinson statement.

At the time, Harbinson said trading a player of Barnstable鈥檚 quality wasn鈥檛 easy.

鈥淭y had done everything we asked of him and he was a very popular teammate during his time here, and that speaks to his character and maturity. He鈥檚 going to an excellent program in Portage and we wish him all the best with the Terriers.鈥�

Barnstable鈥檚 reaction wasn鈥檛 surprising when told the news.

鈥淚t was a little disappointing. They are a great organization,鈥� said Barnstable. 鈥淚 have a lot of good buddies on that team.鈥�

He knows that he is in a good place that also has a winning culture. He stays in touch with his former teammates and exchanged congratulations after winning their respective league titles.

In his first game as a Terrier on Jan. 6 against the OCN Blizzard, Barnstable scored. Then he went pointless for four games. It was the longest pointless streak the five-foot-nine, 161-pound forward would endure the rest of the season. He said it took him a few weeks to get comfortable and settled in. Once he got used to his bigger linemates, Josh Martin (six-feet, 185-pounds) and Ty Enns (six-feet, 175 pounds), things got better.

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鈥淧ucks started to go in, I gained confidence,鈥� said Barnstable, adding he became more open in the room.

He also led the Terriers with 10 playoff goals in 18 games. In the regular season he had 12 goals and 21 points in 24 games.

Terriers coach-GM Blake Spiller said he also became a leader and Barnstable was named an assistant captain just weeks before the MJHL playoffs began.

鈥淗e plays a lot of key minutes for us in all situations,鈥� said Spiller. 鈥淗is addition gave us more depth at the top and really helped us to be a more consistent team.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously a huge honour,鈥� said Barnstable of his A. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 really change much of my game or what I do in the room.鈥�

Barnstable has continued improving his understanding of the game and where he needs to go. He has also learned to find openings when he doesn鈥檛 have the puck.

鈥淚n junior it鈥檚 a little tougher. Everyone is good,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have to find ways to get the puck.鈥�

Barnstable isn鈥檛 sure what it will be like to face the Vees Thursday night, but views them as 鈥渏ust another team.鈥�

He鈥檚 enjoying being back, but the trip can be even sweeter if it results in winning the Western Canada Cup or at least earning one of two berths to compete for a national championship.