JONAS Hoog made his first start back in the red and white of Swindon Wildcats last night and the Swede was delighted to be back.

The 28-year-old may not have had the immediate impact that fans would have hoped as he admitted himself that it would take a few games to get the feel for the puck again.

The forward returned to his native country over the summer after helping to guide Swindon to the play-offs last season.

Hoog said that he returned to Sweden because he had things he had to take care of, including a new apartment, but after making only one appearance for Division One side Haninge Anchors he was happy to be back playing for Swindon.

“It feels great being back with Swindon,” he said in his first interview since returning to the Link Centre.

“It is always a pleasure coming back here and being back in the dressing room.

“I was thinking of talking to Steve (Nell) around Christmas time when I was back home and then Steve text me last weekend so it happened pretty quick.

“I hadn’t played for a while when I was back home and saw an opportunity to come back so it was good.

“It didn’t work out in the first team and the other one was just a weird situation.

“It is only two or three new guys in the changing room, so I have played with nearly all the other guys for almost four years.”

Hoog made his return in the 3-0 Challenge Cup win over Wightlink Raiders and as a result both Kenton Smith and Henrik Sandvik missed the match, with only two imports being allowed to play due to cup rule.

Tomasz Malasinski was also rested for the tie due to a niggling injury, as was Shane Moore who picked up a dead leg in the 5-4 mid-week win over Milton Keynes Lighting.

The small rink size did not help in Hoog’s return to the ice and he admitted that he was feeling fatigued in the second and third period.

“I hope I can bring a lot for the team and we are struggling back home (at the Link Centre) so I hope I can bring something good,” he added.

“This rink was not so fun to play on so I am looking forward to playing on a real hockey rink (in Swindon tonight), and we have great fans and it is always nice to hear the fans shout my name.

“I felt pretty good in the first period but I was tired in the last two periods with just two lines, so I hope it is going to be quick to get back into it.

“Aaron and I have been playing with each other for a few years now and we find each other pretty easy so it is good.”