PAT REGAINS HIS FORM

Oksanen over concussion

Emil Oksanen feels like his old self again.

Armed with a familiar skill set and a healthy new perspective, the Regina Pats’ winger has been rejuvenated by his return to the lineup after missing 13 games due to injury.

“It was my first concussion so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Oksanen, whose team plays host to the Kootenay Ice on Friday. “It was worse than I ever imagined it would be. You can’t live a normal life. You can’t come to watch the games and you can’t be on your phone. You start thinking about those small things in life — that hockey isn’t the biggest thing — when something like that happens.”

Oksanen was hurt Dec. 27 when he took a hit from 6-foot5, 252-pound behemoth Baron Thompson of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

At first, Oksanen wasn’t sure what to make of his symptoms.

“Those kind of injuries, you’re never sure what’s going on,” he said. “It’s kind of day to day and week to week — just trying to rest and hope you’re going to get to play. I had those symptoms and the headaches and one day I didn’t have those anymore, so it’s a big relief. I was like: ‘Yay, I’m back now.’”

Oksanen has played five games since returning Jan. 27. The 19-year-old Finnish rookie has at least a point in each of the past three, notching one goal and three assists.

“Every day feels better, trying to get into shape again,” he said. “It felt the same way as coming from summer break. It was (difficult) at the start but getting better.”

Oksanen adjusted quickly to his new team, recording 10 goals and 19 points in his first 13 WHL games. After that, he hit a slump that wasn’t entirely surprising given the demands of the North American game.

“I’m used to playing 40 to 50 games in Finland,” said Oksanen, who has already played 41 games this season. “There are things that I had to do better … doing more stuff with your body. I love to play so it’s fun to play three games a week but you have to figure out sometimes that you feel tired and you still have to play good.”

Oksanen’s time off had a rejuvenating effect.

“Sometimes it’s a good thing when guys are out for an extended period; it energized him,” said Pats assistant coach/assistant GM Dave Struch. “You can see that right now. He has picked up from his first four or five weeks here. He’s playing like he can with and without the puck.”

The latter has been key.

“One of the things he had to learn from the game here in North America has been the physical side of it,” Struch said. “He’s engaging in it without the puck a lot more so he’s more comfortable when he has the puck and players are coming at him and challenging him physically. That has helped him a lot.” It shows.

Oksanen has found a home recently on the third line alongside centre Jake Leschyshyn. He’s also displaying his skills on the team’s second power play unit, finding an important niche on the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup.

“Every season you have ups and downs,” added Oksanen, who has 13 goals and 35 points in 41 games. “I feel more comfortable. The ice doesn’t feel so small (any more). It feels like home almost now. I feel like I’m getting better every game and trying to play my best games in the playoffs.”