BRAMPTON, Ont. – After being a healthy scratch for 13 straight games, Andreas Tsogkas was excited to be back in the Brampton Battalion lineup.

In his return Saturday night, Tsogkas assisted on the second-period goal by Sam Carrick that lifted the Battalion to a 3-2 Ontario Hockey League victory over the host Oshawa Generals. It was Tsogkas’s first game since a 6-1 win Dec. 18 over the visiting Sarnia Sting.

“There might have been a little nerves there,” said Tsogkas. “But it’s just another hockey game, and you always have to be ready. It felt great to be back out there with the boys.” 

The Battalion, which was blanked 3-0 at home Sunday by the Niagara IceDogs as Tsogkas again drew into the lineup, has a won-lost-extended record of 27-13-9 for 63 points, tied atop the Central Division with Niagara, which holds a game in hand.

“A lot of teams underestimated us coming into the season, but we have a great group of guys here and we’ve been doing well,” said Tsogkas. 

An 18-year-old resident of Toronto, Tsogkas was offered the choice of remaining with the Battalion or joining a junior A team to seek more playing time.  

“I just thought staying here, being with the boys, being part of such a good atmosphere, practising every day at a high level and working out would strengthen me a lot.”

A 13th-round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, Tsogkas acknowledged that he needed to stay mentally and physically strong to persevere.

“It can be a really big mental issue when you sit for that long, but I’ve been told by a lot of people to stick with it.

“I’ve been working really hard, going to the gym a lot, working out before and after practice and skating with the coaches a couple of times per week. I knew the chance would eventually come, so I just had to be ready for it.”

Tsogkas, who played right wing against Oshawa and Niagara but who has also skated at centre, credited the support of teammates.

“They’re all helping me out a lot and have been a huge part of it.

“They all pick you up when you’re down. During a game we all help each other out if one person gets down, or going through a slump another guy picks him back up and gets him going again.”

Tsogkas has scored one goal and added three assists for four points in 29 games.

“I try to bring a lot of energy to the team, play my role, get pucks deep and just get offensive zone time.”