FORD CITY — Foreign territory.

Butler seniors Tanner Master, R.C. Double, Justin O'Donnell and Pat Wellner are experiencing such a realm in more ways than one.

All members of the Golden Tornado hockey program, they were left without a hockey home when the lack of players prevented Butler from fielding a varsity team this season.

"Toward the end of last year, I was convinced I wasn't going to be playing hockey anymore,"Double admitted.

But not only are they playing. They're winning.

Butler's varsity team won five games the past two years. Master, Double, O'Donnell and Wellner now suit up for Ford City, which plays in the PIHL's Open Division.

The Sabers are off to a 4-0 start, and the Tornado contingent isn't just along for the ride. Master leads the team with eight goals and 13 points. Double is second on the scoring list with five goals and 12 points.

O'Donnell is the starting goaltender and sports a goals-against average of 3.50. Wellner plays on the checking line and has contributed a pair of goals.

"Ford City didn't have a team for nine years, but some kids approached us about playing last year, so we put one together,"Ford City associate head coach Glen Kilgore said.

With players from Ford City, West Shamokin, Leechburg and Riverview, the Sabers finished 14-7-1 in the Open Division last year, losing to Woodland Hills in the playoff semifinals.

"We lost a few players to graduation and when the Butler guys wanted to come on board, we filed the paperwork with the PIHLand it all worked,"Kilgore said.

The Open Division exists for schools that want to enter teams in the PIHL but don't have enough players in the school to do so on their own. Thus, they merge with other schools.

Butch Master, Tanner's father, said he saw the writing on the wall at Butler a few years ago.

"As these guys were coming through the Butler system, there were no players immediately behind them,"he said. "By their senior year, it was going to be tough for Butler to put together a varsity team.

"Every other player in that program is young and their parents didn't think they were ready to compete at the Triple-A varsity level. I don't blame them."

Ford City has outscored its opposition 33-12 through four games.

Master scored only six points for the Golden Tornado last year, more than doubling that production already.

"This is a different level of hockey,"Master said. "Playing against (Class AAAopponents) Bethel Park, North Allegheny — that's another world.

"Still, I never thought I'd be scoring like this. We're having a blast."

Double plays defense for the Sabres.

"Our team goal is to try to stay undefeated as long as we can,"he said. "Winning is the big thing."

O'Donnell said he faced at least 35 shots per game tending goal for Butler last year. He recalled facing 60 shots one night.

With Ford City, he faces a shot total in the low 20s.

"It takes a while for a goalie to get used to a new team,"O'Donnell said. "You have to know what they're doing on the ice and how they play, how they go after pucks around the net and whether they take the man or the pick on 2-on-1 breaks.

"I'm amazed at how quickly everything has clocked together here."

O'Donnell was in goal for a recent 5-3 win over Hempfield that vaulted Ford City to the top of the Open Division rankings.

"We feel like we're capable of winning it,."Kilgore said. "These Butler guys are a big reason why."