The Soo Greyhounds received a boost ahead of a three-game road trip later this week.
The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday morning that Blake Speers has been returned to the team after starting the season in the National Hockey League.
The Greyhounds captain last season, Speers impressed enough in training camp to earn a spot on the Devils 23-man roster to start the season. The 19-year-old played in three games with the Devils, including on Saturday night in the Devils 2-1 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild.
In three games, Speers was held pointless.
Speers was one of two 19-year-olds to make the Devils roster out of training camp. Former Sarnia Sting forward Pavel Zacha was the other.
With Speers being sent back to junior, the Devils recalled Steve Santini from the American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, a team coached by former Greyhounds captain Rick Kowalsky.
In 68 games last season with the Greyhounds, Speers posted career highs in goals (26), assists (48) and points (74). In 187 career Ontario Hockey League games, Speers has 69 goals and 181 points.