is excited to be making a return to the Kelowna Rockets91裸聊视频� lineup this week. For the Western Hockey League team, the feeling is mutual.

The 19-year-old forward, who hasn91裸聊视频檛 played with the Rockets since Dec. 9 when he joined Canada91裸聊视频檚 national junior team, will suit up for Kelowna Wednesday night at Prospera Place against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 excited to be back,91裸聊视频� Dube said following team practise on Tuesday. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be good to get back home for that first game, Footer (Cal Foote) and I are both back, as a team we91裸聊视频檙e battling a couple of injuries but we91裸聊视频檙e closer to a full team than we91裸聊视频檝e been for a while. I91裸聊视频檓 excited and happy to be back.91裸聊视频�

Much has happened for Dube since his last game in Rockets91裸聊视频� 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 week91裸聊视频檚 game against Spokane, but was sidelined by a virus he actually contracted midway through the world junior hockey championship.

It91裸聊视频檚 only this week that the Rockets91裸聊视频� veteran has started to feel more like himself.

91裸聊视频淚 was playing sick (at world juniors) and my immune system got pretty run down after that,91裸聊视频� said Dube who returned to Kelowna Sunday. 91裸聊视频淭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.

91裸聊视频淚 felt pretty good at practise (Tuesday) and feel ready to go.91裸聊视频�

Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton said Dube91裸聊视频檚 return will pay dividends for his club, on and off ice.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檒l be great having him back, he91裸聊视频檒l bring energy to our team just by the way he plays,91裸聊视频� Hamilton said. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檒l help get some of our other guys going who have maybe been spinning their wheels a bit.91裸聊视频�

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 he91裸聊视频檒l never forget.

91裸聊视频淕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,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏eing able to achieve one of the biggest goals there is in junior hockey is an unbelievable feeling.91裸聊视频�

ALSO READ: Gold medal still sinking in for Rockets91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 so proud of them,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e been unbelievable, guys have been getting it done and have propelled us into first place. You can91裸聊视频檛 ask for any more than that.91裸聊视频�

The Rockets will honour both Dube and Foote for their world junior victory prior to Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 game. Face off is 7:05 p.m.

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