The Calgary Flames prospect recorded eight points in his first five games of the season.

After missing the first 25 games of the season with a lower-body injury, Samuel Honzek returned to the Vancouver Giants in a big way. The Calgary Flames prospect has seven points in his first five games and has helped spark Vancouver's offence. He was also named the first European captain in franchise history as he looks to lead the Giants on and off the ice. 

Honzek's injury occurred while he was playing a preseason game for the Flames. This was the second consecutive season he sustained a serious lower-body injury after his Achilles was slashed at last year's World Juniors. As he explains, it was a difficult rehab process, but he is ready to make up for lost time.

"I would say, a little bit similar to when I had the injury at the World Juniors last year," said Honzek. "It was almost the same timeline, you know, but pretty tough because it wasn't surgery or anything, but still, it took a really long time to heal up. Hopefully, I can get my energy up right now, and I can help the team."

Since the injury happened while he was playing for Calgary, the organization kept Honzek with the team as he rehabbed. During that time, he had the chance to watch games, work with the team's skating coaches and also had the opportunity to jump on the ice one time with Oliver Kylington, who is also rehabbing from injury. While the recovery process was long, he absorbed as much knowledge as possible before being reassigned to the WHL. 

"It happened there so they said they will keep you there until I'm healthy. I'm really thankful that I could stay there, and they take care to like 100% and at the top level. I'm thankful for that. I was basically on the team all the time when I was there and watching all the games. That really helped me because I was learning from them, and I'll still be in touch with them. Talking to them a little bit, so that was a big thing for me. I think I was watching lots of games there, so I know I will bring something to my game here, so it's really helped me."

Prior to Honzek's first game back with Vancouver, the team named him the first-ever European captain in franchise history. He now joins an exclusive list that includes Zack Ostapchuk, Justin Sourdif, Brendan Gallagher and Craig Cunningham, who have all captained Vancouver in the past. It is a special honour, and he is grateful for the opportunity to lead this team for the rest of the season.

"A big thing for me. It's an honour to wear that and see it on my jersey, especially because it's my second year in Canada. It is really special for me, especially with lots of guys in this year's locker room who were here last year, too. So I'm really thankful for them, and they helped me. I'm really excited, and I hope I can lead the team in a good way."

Now that he is fully healed, Honzek is set to represent Slovakia at the World Juniors once again. This will be his third and final opportunity to represent his country at this tournament, and he will do it with his family watching from the stands. Just like with the Giants, he is ready to be a leader and believes the team is good enough to leave with its first medal since 2015.

"It's It's exciting. It's close to my home so my parents are going to come and it's it's my last World Juniors. I had two World Juniors so far. First one we didn't make the playoffs; we played really bad. For the second World Juniors, I got injured, and then this is my third. I think we're a pretty good roster, and I think we can do it. I think we can think of a medal."

Honzek is a game-breaker and will be a massive part of Vancouver's push to the playoffs this season. While he already looks dynamic on the ice, the hope for the Giants is he can light up the World Juniors and bring that success back to the WHL. While replicating his 56 points from last season may be a stretch, he could do some damage for Vancouver over the second half of the season.