Ozolinsh Is Ready to Move Forward

Saying he has found sobriety after a month-plus stay in the NHL’s substance abuse and behavioral program, Sandis Ozolinsh was back in a Mighty Duck uniform Thursday as the team resumed practice after a 10-day break for the Winter Olympics.

Although unwilling to divulge specifics about the nature of his problem or his time in the program -- run jointly by the NHL and the players’ union -- Ozolinsh said he was glad to be back.

A seven-time All-Star with four other teams, Ozolinsh also said he had strong support while undergoing treatment at an undisclosed facility in Malibu.

“It’s important for me,” Ozolinsh said of being sober. “And it’s important for my family. The [Ducks] supported me and I really want to thank them. They supported me, the league and the union, all my teammates. Now it’s up to me to come on the ice and be the best player I can be.”

Ozolinsh rejoined the team after playing for his native Latvia in the Winter Olympics. The 33-year-old defenseman logged heavy minutes in five games and recorded one goal and three assists before Latvia was eliminated Tuesday.

Going to the Olympics was not a sure thing for Ozolinsh, who entered the substance abuse program on Dec. 29.

He said he began working out in late January hoping for the chance to go to Turin but wasn’t sure Latvia Coach Leonids Beresnevs would put him on the roster.

But Beresnevs did and, one day before the hockey competition got underway, the NHL and union cleared Ozolinsh to play.

“It was definitely very useful for me to be back on the ice,” Ozolinsh said. “Playing in the Olympics is not exactly a pressure-free tournament, especially when everybody there knew my situation. There was a lot of discussion on should I be on the team or not.”

Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said it was good to see Ozolinsh at the rink Thursday. “As a hockey player, there’s no better place for a guy to be,” Carlyle said.

Ozolinsh was having a difficult season, hobbled by illness and injuries that limited him to 13 games. He voluntarily entered the substance abuse program after failing to show up for a practice and a team flight.

Defenseman Ruslan Salei was happy to see his teammate.

“I missed him a lot,” Salei said. “To see a guy come back from that kind of situation, I think he’s in great shape right now. He looks good.”

Ozolinsh says he is looking to the future.

“There’s nothing I can do about the past,” he said. “I just try to have a positive attitude. ... Try to do whatever it is on my part to get back to playing shape and doing whatever I have to do off the ice. Do what I can control.”