Sheppard takes big step in rehab process

SAN JOSEJames Sheppard said he feels like a hockey player again.

Sheppard skated with his teammates in full pads and an orange no contact jersey on Friday at Sharks Ice for the first time since being acquired by the club in August. The forward, who hasnt played since the end of the 2009-10 season due to a serious knee injury, is still weeks away from being available to play, though.

When youre injured you just become injured, but Im done with that, he said. I want to become a player, and play.

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Its been a tough road for the 23-year-old Halifax native since an ATV accident on September 7, 2010 almost ended his career.

After playing in 224 NHL games with the Wild, the club that drafted him in the first round in 2006, Sheppard missed the entire 2010-11 season and was traded to the Sharks for a third round pick in the 2013 draft.

Sheppard said hes not adding any unnecessary stress to his situation by trying to put a time frame on his return.

I did that before and it wasnt the right way to do it. When the time comes, the time comes. You cant control time, you can only control what you do. When you think about that too much its almost mind-boggling. If you just stay on track and take it one day at a time, thats when you get closer, said Sheppard.