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Jason King 'excited' with IceCaps homecoming

Corner Brook hockey player Jason King has signed on with the fledgling St. John's Ice Caps, giving the former Vancouver Canuck another opportunity at the big leagues.
Jason King says he is looking forward to returning to professional hockey in North America, after three years in a European league. (CBC)

Corner Brook hockey player Jason King has signed on with the fledgling St. John's IceCaps, giving the former Vancouver Canuck another opportunity at the big leagues.

"I'm excited to get my game back to where I know it can be and it should be, and wherever that leads, I'm excited to see," King told CBC News.

King had been the pride of the Corner Brook minor hockey system, and was drafted to the Canucks in 2001, playing with them in 2003. However, injuries pushed him out, and after playing in the American Hockey League, he moved three years ago to play in the top European league.

"The decision to go to Europe was a bit of a difficult one at the time," said King, who turns 30 next month. "My style of game fits best in North America."

King brings some local flair to the IceCaps, the AHL farm team affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets. The new team begins formal play in October, and will play exhibition matches in September.

After playing with a German team, King said he is happy to be playing closer to home for his biggest fans: his parents.

"With us having two boys now, they're going to see their grandkids a lot more than they used to," he said in an interview.