is excited to be making a return to the Kelowna Rockets害羞草研究所� lineup this week. For the Western Hockey League team, the feeling is mutual.

The 19-year-old forward, who hasn害羞草研究所檛 played with the Rockets since Dec. 9 when he joined Canada害羞草研究所檚 national junior team, will suit up for Kelowna Wednesday night at Prospera Place against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 excited to be back,害羞草研究所� Dube said following team practise on Tuesday. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be good to get back home for that first game, Footer (Cal Foote) and I are both back, as a team we害羞草研究所檙e battling a couple of injuries but we害羞草研究所檙e closer to a full team than we害羞草研究所檝e been for a while. I害羞草研究所檓 excited and happy to be back.害羞草研究所�

Much has happened for Dube since his last game in Rockets害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 game against Spokane, but was sidelined by a virus he actually contracted midway through the world junior hockey championship.

It害羞草研究所檚 only this week that the Rockets害羞草研究所� veteran has started to feel more like himself.

害羞草研究所淚 was playing sick (at world juniors) and my immune system got pretty run down after that,害羞草研究所� said Dube who returned to Kelowna Sunday. 害羞草研究所淭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.

害羞草研究所淚 felt pretty good at practise (Tuesday) and feel ready to go.害羞草研究所�

Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton said Dube害羞草研究所檚 return will pay dividends for his club, on and off ice.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be great having him back, he害羞草研究所檒l bring energy to our team just by the way he plays,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檒l help get some of our other guys going who have maybe been spinning their wheels a bit.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檒l never forget.

害羞草研究所淕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,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏eing able to achieve one of the biggest goals there is in junior hockey is an unbelievable feeling.害羞草研究所�

ALSO READ: Gold medal still sinking in for Rockets害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 so proud of them,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e been unbelievable, guys have been getting it done and have propelled us into first place. You can害羞草研究所檛 ask for any more than that.害羞草研究所�

The Rockets will honour both Dube and Foote for their world junior victory prior to Wednesday害羞草研究所檚 game. Face off is 7:05 p.m.

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