"It seemed every time David Moss got into the groove last season, he was knocked back by an injury.

None, however, was as serious as a high ankle sprain that caused the versatile Calgary Flames forward to miss the final 11 games of last season and, eventually, a good part of his off-season training regimen.

In all, the 29-year-old had to pass on 24 games during a bounce-back campaign in which he was on pace to easily enjoy a career National Hockey League season.

"We were right in the hunt and I think were playing some of our better hockey, so to get injured at that point was extremely frustrating," recalled the six-foot-three centre/winger of that day when he caught a skate blade in a rut during a practice and abruptly put an end to a 17-goal, 30-point campaign.

"Then not making the playoffs and having a long summer . . . certainly I was itching to get back at it and excited to get going this year.""