WINNIPEG

Robak getting good look with Ducks

Josh Crabb CTV Winnipeg
Published Sunday, December 14, 2014 2:56PM CST

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Text:

It's been a whirlwind month for Colby Robak of Gilbert Plains, Manitoba.

He got to make his Anaheim Ducks debut in his home province 3 days after being traded by the Florida Panthers.

Then, he came back to Winnipeg again with the Ducks just one week later, for an encore.

"It's almost unexplainable,” Robak said following the Ducks 4-1 win over the Jets on Saturday night.

“To come here and play my first two games as a Duck in front of friends and family is kind of surreal.”

“It was a lot of fun. It's a great building to play in, it's a tough building to play in. The fans are always into it."

Hailing from Manitoba, at least a few of those fans were likely cheering on Robak.

With numerous injuries on the Ducks blueline, Robak has been given a chance to showcase his game in front of Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau.

Boudreau said he was really happy with Robak’s performance in the team’s second game against the Jets.

“He moved the puck well, looked at ease,” Boudreau said.

"The first game is always tough, you're playing your first game in front of your family and everything but I thought he was way more at home (Saturday), he played a lot better.”

The 24-year-old saw just over 17 minutes of ice time in the Ducks 4-3 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets on December 7^th.

He played just under 15 minutes in the team’s victory on Saturday.

Robak was drafted by the Florida Panthers 46^th overall in 2008.

He was traded from the Panthers to the Anaheim Ducks on December 4^thin exchange for defenceman Jesse Blacker.

The Ducks also sent the Panthers a conditional 4^th round pick in 2016, or, a 6^th round pick in 2017, depending on how many games Robak plays for Anaheim.

For a guy who grew up playing hockey on the prairies, the sunny destinations in two separate stops in his young NHL career are a welcome change.

“Coast-to-coast, sun-to-sun. I’m not complaining,” Robak said.

The former Brandon Wheat King said joining the Ducks has been a smooth transition. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Anaheim is currently the top team in the league with 47 points in 32 games played.

"They've been so welcoming, the whole organization,” Robak said.

“They're a great group of guys, it's a younger group. They're very welcoming it's an easy transition and hopefully we keep it going."