For a six-game stretch, an illness prevented from playing for the Kelowna Rockets.

Now that he乌鸦传媒檚 been cleared to return, the 19-year-old forward hopes an invitation to Canada乌鸦传媒檚 national junior team selection camp will follow.

Lind, who has been battling mononucleosis, could be back in the Rockets乌鸦传媒� lineup as early as Saturday night against the Kootenay Ice.

乌鸦传媒淚t feels good to be out of the house and back at the rink again,乌鸦传媒� said Lind who skated for the first time since mid-November at Rockets practise Thursday morning. 乌鸦传媒淭wo and a half weeks without doing anything was tough. I felt a little less rusty than I thought, so that乌鸦传媒檚 good. I still have a ways to go, but I乌鸦传媒檓 looking forward to getting back in the lineup as soon as I can.乌鸦传媒�

Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton said at the very least, the Shaunavon, SK native should be ready to go for the first two games of the club乌鸦传媒檚 eastern road trip Dec. 8 and 9 in Regina and Brandon.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been a long challenging test for him,乌鸦传媒� Hamilton said of Lind and his bout with mononucleosis. 乌鸦传媒淔ortunately for him and for us, he乌鸦传媒檚 at the very end of it.乌鸦传媒�

Now that he乌鸦传媒檚 returning to health, next up on Lind乌鸦传媒檚 wish-list is an invitation to Hockey Canada乌鸦传媒檚 final selection camp later this month.

乌鸦传媒淥bviously it乌鸦传媒檚 been a goal of mine since the start of the season, I乌鸦传媒檝e never had a chance to wear the Maple Leaf,乌鸦传媒� said Lind, who has 32 points in 20 games for Kelowna this season. 乌鸦传媒淭o get back and be healthy, hopefully that will lead to the opportunity for me. It乌鸦传媒檚 out of my control, but I think I put my best foot forward. If not, I乌鸦传媒檓 going to focus on the Rockets and helping us win.乌鸦传媒�

Team Canada will announce its 30-player camp list early next week, one that two other Rockets, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote, hope to be included on.

The national junior team selection camp is set for Dec. 12 to 15 in St. Catharines, ON. The goes Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Buffalo, NY.

Rockets in Spokane乌鸦传媒�

The Rockets will pay their second visit of the season to Spokane Friday to take on Dan Lambert乌鸦传媒檚 Chiefs. The first meeting between the clubs on Nov. 22 produced a 6-2 Chiefs乌鸦传媒� victory and Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 most recent defeat.

乌鸦传媒淭he last game in there we played good for half the game,乌鸦传媒� said Rockets乌鸦传媒� head coach Jason Smith. 乌鸦传媒淭hey wore us down and they played a physical, hard game. Our compete level wasn乌鸦传媒檛 where it needed to be. It乌鸦传媒檒l be good for us to go back there and raise our level of play.乌鸦传媒�

Kelowna (15-8-2-1) continued its recent run of success on home ice Wednesday with a Cougars. Over-age forward Carsen Twarynski scored a hat trick as the Rockets pushed their Prospera Place winning streak to nine games.

乌鸦传媒淭he guys obviously really enjoy playing here,乌鸦传媒� Smith said of his team乌鸦传媒檚 play at Prospera Place. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e started games well at home which makes it a lot easier, I think if we can continue to come out of the gates and do things the right way off the start of the game, then it really gives you a chance.乌鸦传媒�

The Rockets will play their last home game prior to Christmas on Saturday night against the Kootenay Ice. Face off on Teddy Bear Toss night at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.

Kelowna opens a six-game tour of the Prairies Friday, Dec. 8 in Regina.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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