After spending a week in Sweden, with his wife and 10-month-old son Max, Cochrane’s Mason Raymond finds himself preparing for a shortened National Hockey League season with the Vancouver Canucks.
Raymond had flown to Sweden earlier this month to play for Orebro HK, only to be quickly called back at the end of the NHL lockout.
“It was a quick trip,” Raymond said in a Jan. 15 telephone interview with the Eagle. “I knew full well going into it there was a possibility we’d be coming back home to play in the NHL. And that’s good news.”
Raymond now finds himself at a short training camp competing for a top-six forward spot on a roster that currently has Ryan Kesler and David Booth nursing injuries.
“If I play the way I can play I’m going to be in a spot I think I can be in, and where I can be successful.
“I feel great. I’ve had more than enough time to work out. I’m ready to get back on the ice and playing games.”
As for playing in a shortened 48-game season: “It’s going to be key to come out of the gate really strong. It’s an opportunity for us to do some good things.”
