Music: {allcanada} HEALTHY ERIC FEHR THRIVING IN FINLAND

Thursday, January 3, 2013

{allcanada} HEALTHY ERIC FEHR THRIVING IN FINLAND

27-year-old Eric Fehr appears to have found himself again, according to The Winnipeg Sun.

Discarded by the Jets — and ignored by every other NHL team in the free agent market — after a disastrous 2011-12 campaign, Fehr is looking like his old self after joining former Jets teammate Antti Miettinen with HPK Hameenlinna, in the Finnish league.

"I had a lot to prove to myself and to everybody else," the Winkler, Man., product was saying in an interview from Finland, Wednesday. "I wasn't happy with the way last season went at all, and I wanted to get it behind me the best way I could."

In his first 19 games, Fehr had recorded 12 goals and 23 points, good for second in team scoring, while playing some 20 minutes a game.

When it came time to retain his rights through a qualifying offer, the Jets declined. Then came free agency, and no nibbles.

Once the lockout hit, Fehr knew he had to play somewhere. Anywhere.

"I'm playing pretty well," he said. "I definitely have a lot more confidence than I have in the last couple of years. I'm seeing the ice a lot better. Our line's been playing really well together."

They're top-three in team scoring, Fehr and the two Finns, Ville Viitaluoma and Jere Sallinen — "Villy and Sally" Fehr calls them.

Fehr can hold his high again, after rediscovering his own ability. Ability as elusive, until recently, as the solution to the lockout.

"I always knew I could play," Fehr said. "A lot of the problem was my health the last couple of years. I'm feeling a lot better now. With a healthy body and a fresh start, it's been great for me ... that should give me a good opportunity to find a place to play if the league comes back.

"Obviously I believed in myself more than a lot of people believed in me."