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The Kelowna Rockets are giving forward Nolan Foote a chance to rest and re-adjust to the jet lag after his return from the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Foote and his Team Canada Teammates knocked-off Russia in a come-from-behind win three days ago to take gold before returning to Kelowna Monday night.
Foote was mobbed by his teammates at the airport.
Golden Nolan is home!
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 7, 2020
The entire team surprised @foote_nolan at the airport tonight. pic.twitter.com/iDy5IuTIE0
"Didn't see that coming at all," he said, talking about his fellow Rockets surrounding him on his arrival. "That was really special and after a long travel day it was really nice seeing all the guys."
But one of the first people he spoke to after the big win was his brother Cal, who also won a world junior title as a Kelowna Rockets captain. "I FaceTimed him while I was on the ice," said the younger Foote. "He was really fired-up. And I was just talking to him for the rest of the night and I was with my mom after so that was good."
Foote didn't suit up Wednesday night and took the day off practice Thursday to help shake off the jet lag.
"It's definitely hard, the last few mornings I was up pretty early," said Foote. "You get really tired. Throughout the day I try to not nap, stay up, so I can fall asleep at night."
He believes the experience with Team Canada will make him a better player as he returns to the Rockets lineup.
"It's a high level of hockey, a lot of good players and every game is like a playoff game," said Foote. "So hopefully I can bring some of that intensity back here and get the guys going."
The Rockets are in Kamloops Friday night. Whether or not Foote will be in the lineup Friday night will be a game time decision.
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