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Pochiro has playoff ambitions

Zach Pochiro left a professional hockey team and returned to a pro reception in Prince George. Sent back to the Cougars this week by the St.
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POCHIRO

Zach Pochiro left a professional hockey team and returned to a pro reception in Prince George.

Sent back to the Cougars this week by the St. Louis Blues, the team that drafted him in the fourth round in 2013, Pochiro walked into a new reality when he got to the revamped dressing room area after the game at CN Centre Tuesday night.

It didn't take Pochiro long to warm up to the New Ice Age he's been hearing about ever since the new ownership group headed by Greg Pocock took over the Cougars franchise.

"This is amazing, we've got a full-on gym, it's as good as it gets, as pro as it gets - we've got a Jacuzzi, an ice bath, every single thing that you would need, " said Pochiro, in the aftermath of Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Giants, his first game back with the Cougars since the 2013-14 season wrapped up in March.

"I shook hands with the new owners and they made me feel like royalty. When I didn't make my flight [Tuesday] they almost got me on a private jet. This is way different."

The crowd of 2,363 in attendance Wednesday made Pochiro feel right at home, letting out a big roar when his name was called in the pre-game starting lineup introductions. Last season, there would have been a thousand fewer people in the building for a mid-week game.

"Them announcing my name was pretty cool, I've never had love like that before," Pochiro said.

After Pochiro attended the Blues' rookie camp, St. Louis sent the 20-year-old centre to their AHL affiliate in Chicago and on Oct. 6 he was reassigned to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. In eight games with the Aces, Pochiro picked up two assists, 13 penalty minutes and a minus-6 rating.

"It was a different camp for me this year, I wasn't just going through the motions, I was actually trying to make a statement and to be the best I could be," said Pochiro. "I thought I played pretty well in Chicago trying to make that team but they have some good players and in Alaska I guess it just didn't work out.

"St. Louis thought it would be best I come back here to play. They really trust everything we have going on here in P.G. and they wanted me back here, which is awesome. I'm happy to be here."

Pochiro, who makes his off-season home in Las Vegas, earned his first point of the season, assisting on Chase Witala's power-play goal in the third period, and he knows he'll get better with time.

"I'm not used to playing big minutes, I'm just getting my legs under me and getting back in the swing of things and it was great," said Pochiro. "The boys played amazing and won 6-1, I can't ask for anything else."

Pochiro looked a little unsure of himself at times getting used to his new Cougar teammates but it's been nearly eight months since he's had that much playing time in a league game. With the Aces he was involved in just a couple shifts per period and was a healthy scratch for several games.

"He's matured, certainly - he's been through a couple of NHL camps, he's played some pro hockey and [on Wednesday] he was noticeable on the ice," said Cougars head coach Mark Holick. "He's a little rusty, he told me he hasn't played those minutes all year. On the bench he was talking to players every shift and in the room he was certainly a calming influence on some of our players and he's going to be a good addition for us."

Pochiro's return leaves the Cougars with four 20-year-olds -- Pochiro, goalie Jared Rathjen and wingers Chance Braid and Jari Erricson. That's one more than is allowed and the Cougars will have two weeks to make a decision on who they will release.

Pochiro was the Cougars' third-leading scorer in 2013-14 with 66 points, including 27 goals, in 63 games. As an assistant captain he also led the Cougars in penalty time with 123 minutes. In 128 career WHL games he has 42 goals, 63 assists and 105 points. He also played nine games last spring for the Kalamazoo Wings in the ECHL, where he earned two assists.

"He gives us a lot more confidence, we know that we're getting back one of the best players in the league," said Cougars defenceman Joseph Carvalho. "He does everything for us - he's hardworking, he's skilled, he's gritty, he can do it all and it's going to help our team drastically. He's a very versatile player and he was out there in all situations for us at the end of the game [on Wednesday]."

Leading the Cougars into the playoffs for the first time in four seasons is Pochiro's ultimate goal for his final junior season and he thinks this year's team has what it takes to go deep in the postseason.

"I've never seen playoffs, never been a part of it, and not only do I want to make it I want us to make a long run and we can do it," Pochiro said. "It's a lot more like pro here, guys know when we get on that ice for practice it's not fun and games anymore. It's time to make passes, make plays and be the best we can be. I thought that was a big change and I like that a lot."