Corner Brook -
CORNER BROOK Some people use vacation time to relax at the cabin, spend quality time with family or travel to exotic places.
Darryl Mahar decided his annual leave would be well spent playing with the Corner Brook Royals.
Mahar was working away in Grande Prairie, Alta. when he received a telephone call from his good friend Steve North a week ago. The two chatted about everything under the sun for about an hour before North actually brought up the topic of Mahar suiting up for the Royals.
A few days ago, Mahar was contacted by Royals' management and quickly the paperwork was completed and the 28-year-old was jetting across the country.
"My schedule is two weeks on and one week off and I am 24-7 on call so I can't play much, but I got 35 days of vacation to use up here," Mahar, who works for Weatherford Wire Line in Grande Prairie told The Western Star Thursday.
A goalscorer who plays with an edge, Mahar played on a line with North and former Vancouver Canucks forward Jason King during their AAA midget days. Mahar also led the now-defunct Bay of Islands Bruins in scoring in his only year of senior hockey in this province. His coach with the Bruins just happened to be Juan Strickland.
Mahar was caught off guard when North called him, but he is excited about playing senior hockey at home again and thankful for the opportunity. He is eager to play for coach Juan Strickland again and didn't hide the fact he would love to play on a line with North at some point.
"It's been a long time since we played together," he said.
Mahar has been on the ice every day since arriving home, but hadn't played any senior hockey in two years, before Friday night, because of his work schedule more than anything else. But, he plays in a recreational hockey league in Grande Prairie when his schedule permits. He feels his conditioning will improve with each skate and he doesn't think it will take long to reach comfortability in his game.
"After these three games I will be the old Darryl Mahar. These first three games, I don't know what to expect," he said, before scoring in his first game back in the league.
The acquistion of Mahar was expected to bolster the offence of the Royals, who have had their top players go into slumps as long as five games without a goal this season. Mahar is fully aware of the expectations, and he has no problem with it because he has scored goals in every league he's played in to date.
He is more concerned about keeping his emotions in check.
"I've been known to take a few stupid penalties here and there," he said.
"I got to stay out of the box that's first and foremost. If they want me on the top line on the team well then they're going to want me for the power play hopefully. I'm not going to help the team I am only going to hurt them if I am in the box."
Being home has put a smile on Mahar's face and it appears his friends and family are just as excited as him. Now he just wants to work hard and is willing to play whatever role coach Strickland feels he can handle at this point.
"I would play as many minutes as they let me play," he said.
Fans in central Newfoundland will get their first look at Mahar when the Royals tangle with the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts tonight 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium. The Royals will also have imports Nick Policelli and Roger Maxwell back in their lineup after serving suspensions for their actions in a game against the Clarenville Caribous before the Christmas break.
