Portland, Maine - It’s been four years since I played in the American League and one thing is for sure: I don’t remember the bus rides being as taxing back then as they are now. A few years in the NHL and a campaign in Europe will do that to you.

Even after just a few games in the early season with Portland, I’m feeling at home in the North American game and it’s been a refreshing experience thus far. I’m writing this at a time when re-energizing the body is all that’s on my mind. The team just returned home from a long trip away from Portland that saw us play five games in nine nights, including back-to-back games in Norfolk on Friday and Saturday before a Sunday game in Hershey.

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