is excited to be making a return to the Kelowna Rockets香蕉视频直播� lineup this week. For the Western Hockey League team, the feeling is mutual.

The 19-year-old forward, who hasn香蕉视频直播檛 played with the Rockets since Dec. 9 when he joined Canada香蕉视频直播檚 national junior team, will suit up for Kelowna Wednesday night at Prospera Place against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 excited to be back,香蕉视频直播� Dube said following team practise on Tuesday. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be good to get back home for that first game, Footer (Cal Foote) and I are both back, as a team we香蕉视频直播檙e battling a couple of injuries but we香蕉视频直播檙e closer to a full team than we香蕉视频直播檝e been for a while. I香蕉视频直播檓 excited and happy to be back.香蕉视频直播�

Much has happened for Dube since his last game in Rockets香蕉视频直播� colours. After being named captain of Team Canada, the Cochrane, AB native helped lead his country to a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

Along with Foote, a fellow gold-medal winner, Dube was to have re-joined the Rockets for last week香蕉视频直播檚 game against Spokane, but was sidelined by a virus he actually contracted midway through the world junior hockey championship.

It香蕉视频直播檚 only this week that the Rockets香蕉视频直播� veteran has started to feel more like himself.

香蕉视频直播淚 was playing sick (at world juniors) and my immune system got pretty run down after that,香蕉视频直播� said Dube who returned to Kelowna Sunday. 香蕉视频直播淭en days was maybe too long to be off the ice, but in the end probably good for me to have the time off and a nice break.

香蕉视频直播淚 felt pretty good at practise (Tuesday) and feel ready to go.香蕉视频直播�

Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton said Dube香蕉视频直播檚 return will pay dividends for his club, on and off ice.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be great having him back, he香蕉视频直播檒l bring energy to our team just by the way he plays,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檒l help get some of our other guys going who have maybe been spinning their wheels a bit.香蕉视频直播�

While the initial thrill of winning the world junior championship earlier this month has abated somewhat, Dube said striking gold with Canada is a moment in time he香蕉视频直播檒l never forget.

香蕉视频直播淕etting back to Kelowna, I kind of forgot about it a little, but I know those memories will be with me for a long time,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏eing able to achieve one of the biggest goals there is in junior hockey is an unbelievable feeling.香蕉视频直播�

ALSO READ: Gold medal still sinking in for Rockets香蕉视频直播� Foote

During his absence, the Rockets hardly missed a beat, going 9-2-0-0 over the last 11 games and in the process moving into top spot in the B.C. Division.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 so proud of them,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e been unbelievable, guys have been getting it done and have propelled us into first place. You can香蕉视频直播檛 ask for any more than that.香蕉视频直播�

The Rockets will honour both Dube and Foote for their world junior victory prior to Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 game. Face off is 7:05 p.m.

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