Cody Hodgson is preparing to return to the ice.

The 19-year-old Vancouver Canucks prospect is gearing up for a return to the Ontario Hockey League's Brampton Battalion, after battling a bulging disc suffered during training in July. While he was a final cut – to some a shocking cut – by the Vancouver Canucks during training camp Sept. 29, Hodgson hasn't hit the ice since his return to junior hockey. He had bagged two points, including a goal, during six games of exhibition action with the Canucks, but the injury caused a setback, as he was kept out of contact drills for the first part of training camp and failed to impress Canucks staff when he was able to play.

This week, the Battalion announced on their Web site that Hodgson, who had 92 points in 53 regular-season games with Brampton last year, is working with Battalion trainer Binne Brouwer on the road to recovery. He hasn't even practiced with Brampton since he was returned to the club, but now he's looking forward to returning.

"I'm looking forward to playing with the guys here again," Hodgson said told the team's Web site. "Things didn't work out the way I might have wanted them to with Vancouver, but I'm not looking back now. My first goal is to get healthy and get back into playing shape."

Hodgson was the 10^th overall selection in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Last year he played a key role in the Canadian World Junior Hockey championship and was also named the Canadian Hockey League player of the year, given to the top major junior player in Canada. He has had his back examined in Ohio earlier this month, and has now shifted his focus on returning to working with Brouwer.

 "He's very knowledgeable about this stuff," said Hodgson. "I will be with him every day, and I think we have a good rehab plan going forward."

Binne has been in contact with the doctors from the Ohio clinic to assist in monitoring his progress. He will return to Ohio Oct. 26 to be reassessed, and the hope is he will then be cleared to skate.

"From there it's a matter of conditioning," Hodgson said.

Brampton has been struggling with its captain out of the lineup. Hodgson was a key performer for Brampton last season, and the club's other top two scorers, Matt Duchene and Evgeny Grachev, didn't return this season. Duchene, the third overall pick in this year's NHL draft, has been a regular in the Colorado Avalanche lineup. The Russian Grachev was a final cut of the New York Rangers, but was sent to their AHL affiliate in Hartford instead of being returned to juniors. Hodgson was too young to play in the American Hockey League, so rules prohibit him from joining the Canucks' farm team until the season is over for his junior team.

Despite numerous new faces, Hodgson is optimistic about his club's performance.

"I can see the team moving in the right direction. There's a lot of potential here, and the guys are coming off some good games last week. Hopefully they can keep building on that," he said. "I'll be around the guys and getting to know the new ones. How this group is off the ice is as important as what happens on the ice. I've been talking to some of the other veterans, and it seems like a good group of character guys."

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