Austin Daae has collected a variety of team jackets in recent years.
After trying his hand with three different Western Hockey League teams in as many years, Daae is planning to spend the entire season with one club -the Estevan Bruins - for the first time in four years.
With the Bruins losing five of their top forwards to graduation, the 20-year-old left winger brings a needed injection of offence to the table.
Daae, an Estevan product, contributed five goals and 16 points in 21 games with the Bruins before leaving to join the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders for the rest of the season.
He had eight points in 30 games there and also suited up in the playoffs, but the Raiders released him last week.
"It's not the worst thing in the world. I'll have a good year here next year and hopefully that opens up the door for other things down the road," said Daae.
In 2011-12, Daae had six assists in five games in an early-season stint with Estevan before packing up to join the Prince George Cougars. There, he had six points in 52 games.
He also appeared in 11 games with the Saskatoon Blades in 2010-11.
"I had a good talk with Austin (last) week and he's excited about coming back," said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
"I think he adds depth to our top-end forward group. The team didn't score a lot of goals last year, but it wasn't for a lack of talent, it was maybe a systematic thing. He'll complement some of our more skilled forwards."
For Daae, being part of the Raiders' first-round loss to the Red Deer Rebels, in which they were swept, was an eye-opener and a growing experience as a player.
"That was my first playoff hockey since midget. It's a totally different game. You see it in the Dub, you see it in the NHL, a team's a powerhouse all year and then they get to the playoffs and it's just a totally different game. It was a good experience though, that's for sure."
The former Saskatchewan midget AAA scoring champion, with the Moose Jaw Warriors, said he has "pretty big expectations" for himself as a 20-year-old.
"Obviously being familiar with some of the guys, that helps," he said. "I think they've got a good team coming back, from the guys that I know. Just rally hard all year. This is my last kick at the can in junior, so I'd love to win something. Us older guys, I'm sure we're going to do everything in our power to get that done. I'm pretty excited to be back."
Lewgood said it appears to be a point of pride for the team's local players to have a better season as a team.
"Talking to Austin, it really sounds like our local guys, our local veteran guys are rejuvenated about the thought of coming back here and having a leadership role and re-instilling some of that pride in the Bruin jersey. I think he really expressed that."
After speaking with him a couple of times, Daae said he's gotten a good first impression of Lewgood as a coach.
"I know guys that have played for him. My cousin played for him for four years and he said he's a good guy and knows his stuff. As long as everybody buys in, us older guys, leaders, hopefully we'll get everybody to buy in and hopefully make a run at something."
As for the present, Daae is recovering from a broken hand he suffered during a recent hockey tournament in Sweden.
