Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer has been cleared to return to the ice just before the team’s season opener after recovering from an appendectomy.
“I got (the) green light to get on the ice Wednesday and then coach going forward,” DeBoer said.
The Stars are set to practice Wednesday in Nashville, a day before their season opener against the Predators. The team traveled there on Tuesday.
DeBoer mentioned that he experienced some minor complications during his recovery from the surgery two weeks ago, which was just a few days into training camp.
This was the first time DeBoer, who is entering his third season with Dallas and 17th as an NHL head coach, had missed any part of camp.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “A little more and a little longer than I thought it was going to be.”
Dallas also has back leading scorer Jason Robertson, who had surgery on July 30 to remove a cyst from his foot. He started skating at the beginning of camp and practiced on his own until joining the team last week.
Robertson was the Stars’ top scorer while playing every game for the past two seasons, helping them reach the Western Conference Final both times. The 25-year-old forward recorded 80 points (29 goals and a team-high 51 assists) last season.
DeBoer rejoined the team on Monday, when he led the video session. He expressed excitement about getting back on the ice.
During his time away, DeBoer kept in touch with his coaching staff and watched the Stars’ exhibition games through the team’s new VICTORY+ streaming service.
“As a returning coach with the great staff we have, it really was seamless,” he said.
