He's back - Sheffield Steelers star set to end injury nightmare in Nottingham Panthers clash
Brendan Connolly will play his first competitive ice hockey game in 281 days, on Saturday.
Steelers' coach Aaron Fox says the 36-year-old warrior will wear the Sheffield shirt at Nottingham Panthers, for the first time since injuring his anterior cruciate ligament against Aalborg in Denmark last November.
The pre-season fixture will hopefully be a key step forward toward a successful season, for the Great Britain forward.
There were some doubts whether Connolly would be completely fit, such was the severity of the injury.
"Conns will play this weekend, he is having a good camp and he had three skates with us before camp started" said Fox.
"He just got more comfortable and confident each day, he's not in an injury colour (training top) so has taken contact.
"We have scrimmaged two-on-two, three-on-three and he has been in the mix there.
"There are a couple of things he may feel a little hesitant on but it's coming more every day and he is closer to himself.
"In any first game back after an injury you are never going to feel 100 percent; you have hesitation in your mind and you need that first game to get your mind right and take that hit and get knocked down - it is all part of the process.
"But in practice, he is doing Conns-type stuff, making smart little plays, and has looked very good."
Fox has been satisfied with the early work to nail down systems, some of which are similar to last year, others have been tweaked, he says.
"It's been good as far as that is concerned, we have had some great skates and everyone has come in good shape."
Asked if there were any flamboyant characters among the dozen strong intake of new players, he replied: "It is a little early to tell, most guys try to settle in before they get too high."
He said the four goaltenders - Oskar Östlund, Matthew Greenfield, Curtis Warburton and Jordan McLaughlin were all mingling well together.
Meanwhile 54-game Steeler Lucas Sandström is back in the EIHL. He has signed for Fife Flyers.
The 33-year-old Swede said: "I am really pumped to start the season up in Fife and help the team win games.
"I am a two way forward who works hard, tries to play with some grit and also score some points.
"I know it is always a good atmosphere up in Fife since I played there before as the away team.
"My personal goals will be to help the team in all zones. Hopefully this season I can stay fit, I had a good summer back home in Sweden and I am super excited to start playing games again and make Fife into a playoff team again."