A year after the most serious injury of his career, the Kelowna Rockets are once again getting a chance to appreciate the real Nick Merkley.

With 20 points乌鸦传媒攊ncluding eight goals乌鸦传媒攊n his last 11 games, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Calgary native is reaffirming his status as one of the WHL乌鸦传媒檚 most skilled and dominant forwards.

Following six months of intensive rehab for a torn ACL in his right knee last February, Merkley had struggled to regain his past form, which included a 90-point season in 2014-15.

But with time, persistence, patience and the help of some skilled line mates, Merkley said he乌鸦传媒檚 feeling a lot closer to his normal self.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 really know how to describe it, but (coming off) the injury, I just wasn乌鸦传媒檛 the same as usual,乌鸦传媒� said Merkley, who had 29 points in 39 games prior to his recent hot streak.

乌鸦传媒淚 think lately, I乌鸦传媒檓 just competing a lot harder, getting on pucks, being aggressive in the zone and creating turnovers,乌鸦传媒� he added.

乌鸦传媒淧laying with (Calvin Thurkauf and Reid Gardner) has helped me, too. Thurks has been scoring well and that picks everybody up. Things are going well right now.乌鸦传媒�

Based on what Jason Smith has observed throughout his long career in the game, the Rockets乌鸦传媒� head coach said the challenges Merkley has faced with the extended time off following the injury are not at all unusual.

乌鸦传媒淚f you listen to people who have had similar, major injuries, the next year can be a real hard one,乌鸦传媒� Smith said. 乌鸦传媒淎fter all the rehab and time away, you might be feeling good physically, have energy and jump, but it takes time to get back to game speed. Your reaction time might be off, and to be able react quickly and instinctively is so important.乌鸦传媒�

And from what Smith has seen over the last three to four weeks, the Arizona Coyotes乌鸦传媒� prospect looks to have his game pretty much back on track.

乌鸦传媒淣ow Nick is back to the point where he乌鸦传媒檚 comfortable making plays,乌鸦传媒� Smith said. 乌鸦传媒淭he big thing is his vision, he乌鸦传媒檚 tapping into those natural skills where it乌鸦传媒檚 all becoming second-nature again. He乌鸦传媒檚 one of those players that have the knack, to be able to see things ahead of the pace.

乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 also working hard at becoming a more complete player and that乌鸦传媒檚 helped, too.乌鸦传媒�

After being cut from Canada乌鸦传媒檚 national junior team in December for the second year in a row, Merkley admits his wasn乌鸦传媒檛 in the best head space midway through the season. In the long run, Merkley said the rejection simply served as motivation.

乌鸦传媒淚t was tough mentally, you obviously want to take advantage of those opportunities,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚t took some time, but I had to bounce back. I used it as fuel to do better and get back to playing the way I can.乌鸦传媒�

And no one is happier to see his return to form than the Rockets who乌鸦传媒攖hanks in large part to Merkley乌鸦传媒攈ave won seven of their last nine games and are in the process of trying to chase down both the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers in the B.C. Division.

The Rockets (34-20-5-0) will host the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight. Face-off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.

Kelowna will then hit the road for three games in three nights this weekend乌鸦传媒擣riday in Kamloops, Saturday in Seattle and Sunday in Spokane.