Having to wait an extra seven weeks to join his teammates was a sobering reality for Dillon Dube.
Being back on the ice with his Âé¶¹AV Rockets has simply confirmed what the 18-year-old centre already knew to be true.
â€Ô¨´Ç³Ü just realize how much you miss it, how much fun it is to be playing the ²µ²¹³¾±ð,†said Dube.
“E±¹±ð²Ô the warm-up, being back with the guys, it makes you feel part of it again. ±õ³Ù’s great to be ²ú²¹³¦°ì.â€
Dube returned to the ¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ’ lineup on Saturday night and promptly put up three assists in a 7-1 win over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
It was ¶Ù³Ü²ú±ð’s first game since late September when the Calgary ¹ó±ô²¹³¾±ð²õ’ prospect suffered a knee injury in an exhibition game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Seven weeks of thorough rehab followed, and while it required patience and ±è±ð°ù²õ¾±²õ³Ù±ð²Ô³¦±ð—w¾±³Ù³ó the help of ¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ’ athletic therapist, Scott ±á´Ç²â±ð°ù‼·³Ü²ú±ð stayed both focused and positive.
â€ÂÙ¾±³Ù³Ù¾±²Ô²µ around was rough, but you realize you ³¦²¹²Ô’t change anything, so you do what you have to do to get ²ú²¹³¦°ì,†said Dube, who missed 27 games in his rookie season with an ankle injury.
â€ÂÙ³¦´Ç³Ù³Ù Hoyer and I have worked together on injuries before and he got me up and going the best and quickest way he ³¦´Ç³Ü±ô»å.â€
Dube said ³ó±ð’s happy to be finally getting a chance to play for new ¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ’ head coach Jason Smith.
From ³§³¾¾±³Ù³ó’s perspective, ³ó±ð’s understandably pleased to have Dube back in the ¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ’ arsenal.
“H±ð’s going to be a key component of us having success going ´Ú´Ç°ù·É²¹°ù»å,†Smith said of Dube.
“H±ð’s obviously got elite puck skills and vision for the game.
“H±ð’s very quick and ³ó±ð’s a dynamic guy, plus ³ó±ð’s really looking forward to growing his game and being a 200-foot ±è±ô²¹²â±ð°ù.â€
Dube and the Rockets will host the Prince George Cougars tonight at Prospera Place. Face-off is 7:05 p.m.