The return of junior hockey marks the first game action in seven months for 19-year-old Dale McCabe.

McCabe is back to lead the Saanich Braves as they open the 2017-18 Vancouver Island Junior B Hockey League season at home at Pearkes arena, Friday at 6:30 p.m. against the Peninsula Panthers. On Sept. 9 they travel to Campbell River to face the defending league champion Storm.

Last year McCabe broke out with 48 points in 35 games, second overall in scoring on the Braves, until a dislocated shoulder injury ended his season in January. He was a big part of the BravesB次元官网网址� biggest season in recent history, finishing third overall in the VIJHL regular season with 29 wins behind only the two conference champions, the Victoria Cougars and the Campbell River Storm.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy to be back,B次元官网网址� McCabe said. B次元官网网址淚 had surgery to fix the [shoulder] tissue, itB次元官网网址檚 feeling good but a little stiff.B次元官网网址�

McCabe was enjoying playing on a line with 2016-17 league MVP Nick Guerra. Losing McCabe was a blow to the team, as he missed the last 11 games and all six games in the first-round playoff exit against the underdog Kerry Park Islanders.

RELATED:

Last week McCabe played a BCHL exhibition match for the Cowichan Capitals but for now, heB次元官网网址檚 a Brave, and heB次元官网网址檒l play a big role if the club can find any early success.

B次元官网网址淲e are a younger team, weB次元官网网址檒l need to work hard,B次元官网网址� McCabe said.

The goal is to get back to Junior A, hopefully by Christmas. In the meantime, heB次元官网网址檚 happy to carry the responsibility as a team leader on a youthful Braves team.

B次元官网网址淟ast year the team was older, we had all eight 20-year-old spots filled, so this year weB次元官网网址檒l be a lot more youthful,B次元官网网址� said new coach Sam Waterfield. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a rebuild, and hopefully we can pick up a couple of [players] and be able to contend down the stretch when it matters.B次元官网网址�

From now until Christmas will be a learning curve for the younger players, Waterfield added.

While all of the Braves players at BCHL camps have since returned, the club is still waiting on two more: Quinton Waltzner, whoB次元官网网址檚 skating in training camp with the WHLB次元官网网址檚 Swift Current Broncos, and Ted Brennan, whoB次元官网网址檚 looking to stay with the Kelowna Rockets.

B次元官网网址淗opefully they stick with those clubs,B次元官网网址� Waterfield said. B次元官网网址淩ight now, a big part of getting ready for the season is recruiting, hoping to pull a couple more players out of Junior A camps.B次元官网网址�

If thereB次元官网网址檚 an ace in hand for the Braves, itB次元官网网址檚 returning goalie Riley Mathieson.

The 20-year-old is excited to finish his junior career in Saanich, coming off a solid 17-win season with the Braves that included a six-week stint as part of the Victoria Royals organization.

B次元官网网址淭his year the amount of experience has pushed me to a level, where, if I can hold myself at a certain standard, I can help these guys win every night,B次元官网网址� Mathieson said.

With one college offer in hand for this season, Mathieson comes back looking to earn more offers.

B次元官网网址淭his is the year where you just leave it all out there. You forget about everything, you just play hockey and give it your all.B次元官网网址�