For the first time in his five-year junior career, Cam Braes arrived at the Enmax Centre on game day.
Also for the first time, he then proceeded to the visitors dressing room.
And while the former captain of the Lethbridge Hurricanes — dealt at the Western Hockey League trade deadline to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a 2012 first-round pick and a second-rounder in 2013 — got to make use of the ’Canes snazzy new dressing room up until he was dealt last month, Braes was in the visitors’ dressing room as the Warriors and Hurricanes clashed during WHL action Wednesday night at the Enmax Centre.
“It’s definitely different, (but) some things are the same,” said Braes Wednesday morning. “It (visitors dressing room), is the same dressing room I was in for my first three years. We used to warm up down at this end. The only thing I think will be different being on the other side of the bench and wearing a different jersey. It’s going to be a fun night, probably pretty emotional, but it’ll be good to say ‘thank you’ to the fans.”
While Braes wasn’t in a playoff race in Lethbridge, he’s in the thick of one now.
The 33-15-5-1 Warriors sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, six  points back of the front-running Edmonton Oil Kings (35-13-2-4).
“It’s been different, but I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Braes, who has six goals and 14 points in his first 11 games with the Warriors. “The guys have been really good and really accepting of me. The coaches have given me lots of opportunities.
“I’m just really excited. It’s an exciting time of year, just getting into a playoff run. That’s why I got the move to Moose Jaw, for the playoffs. So I’m really looking forward to that time of year.”
But Wednesday was about seeing some familiar faces again, even if it was just after a month.
“I’m just going to relish it,” said Braes. “We get to come back here in March, but it’s special coming back here for the first time and seeing all the familiar faces. It’s just been great to be back.”
It was also a chance to not just chat up former teammates and coaches, but fans, arena attendants and the likes of Garry and Cheryl Gudmundson, Braes’ billets in Lethbridge for four years.
“I already visited them, I stopped by their place and said hello,” said Braes. “I saw some of the guys (Tuesday) night, so it won’t be awkward or anything (Wednesday). I’ll have to see Rich and some of the coaches after the game. But even the people around the rink have wished me well and welcomed me back. There are a lot of special people in Lethbridge. They’ve been so good to me over the years.”