SASKATOON – He may only have played in Saskatoon for one season but Nikita Scherbak still has a soft spot for the city that introduced him to hockey in North America.
“It’s always nice to be back to see my billets, to see the guys I played with,” Scherbak said after taking the ice with his former team Monday.
These days the 20-year-old Russian is playing for the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League, whose all-star break afforded Scherbak an opportunity to pay a visit to the Bridge City.
“I still have friends here. (Nick) Zajac, (Ryan) Graham, (Cameron) Hebig – I played with them during my year here,” he explained. “It’s nice to see the young guys around the ice, to get back to junior, because I actually miss junior a lot.”
The feeling is mutual.
“Him and I had a special bond together,” Zajac said. “We were actually roommates on the road for the year that he was here and he’s an awesome guy. I’ve seen him on both sides – before he was drafted, then after – and he hasn’t changed much. He’s still a great guy.”
Although he finished his junior career in Everett last season, and remains property of the Silvertips until his junior eligibility runs out when the current season ends, Scherbak didn’t want to miss a chance to return to the city he still calls his second home.
“I came here when I was 17, my first year in Canada. I have just great, obviously positive emotions about Saskatoon. About the city, about the fans, about the team.”
Scherbak’s visit also provided the current crop of Blades with a glimpse of what it takes to play in the pros.
“He’s a first-round NHL pick and it takes a special kind to be like that,” said Zajac. “He’s a skilled, talented player but at the same time he plays good defence so he could teach a lot.”
But the teacher is also the student, and the Montreal Canadiens prospect knows he still has plenty to learn as well.
“You need to be consistent, especially in (the NHL). You can’t play five games good then one bad,” he said. “So I’m just finding my game, playing hard and hopefully I’m going to get called up this year. If not just keep working.”
The Saskatoon Blades return to the ice Tuesday night when they host the Prince George Cougars. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. CT.