David Stephens junior hockey career has taken him from west to east and now back again.

After a little more than a month lacing up his skates for the Prince George Spruce Kings Junior A team, the 19-year-old forward says he's happy with how things are going with his new team and feels he's contributing well.

In the nine games he's played since moving to the team last month, Stephens has provided two goals and five assists in the no. 16 jersey.

He joined the Spruce Kings after beginning the season across the country in Moncton, New Brunswick as part of that city's Quebec Major Junior League team, the Moncton Wildcats (a team his brother Ted had also played centre for from 2007 to 2010). Stephens played 12 games, earning two assists before he tore his MCL.

"I knew something was wrong,” he said in an interview Thursday as he recalled feeling something was off after he ran into the boards.

Stephens is no stranger to picking himself up and getting back on the ice after an injury. He played the 2010-2011 season with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings, but went down to the Junior B division in the 2011-2012 season before signing onto Moncton for this season.

The torn MCL ended his time in Moncton, but he was soon on the roster for the Spruce Kings after he was in touch with former teammate Lyndon Martell, who also plays for the Spruce Kings. The two had already spent time together in Prince George on the Cariboo Cougers major midget team. Stephens played with the Cougers for two seasons from 2008 to 2010.

When former Spruce King's forward Tanner Fjellstrom decided to leave the team to pursue his post-secondary education, Stephens came on board.

"David Stephens is a very good player who will be able to contribute at both ends of the ice,” Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes said in announcing Stephens had joined the team. "He is very familiar with Prince George, having played with the Cariboo Cougars and will be a very nice addition to our lineup, improving our overall depth up front.”

Back on the ice since January, Stephens said his leg feels fine with the help of a knee brace.

The Prince George team is "pretty fast”, he said, adding he's getting more time and space with the puck.

While coming onto a new team part way through a season could be intimidating for anyone, Stephens said the Spruce Kings have been welcoming and it's helped to already know a couple of the players.

"They're a pretty tight group, but I fit in well,” he said.

As he moves into the second part of the season, Stephens said he wants to continue contributing to the Spruce Kings on the ice and help take the team as far as they can go in the playoffs.

"I think it's about consistency,” he said.

Stephens has one more year left in junior hockey. He said he expects he'll play his final year with the Spruce Kings, but ultimately he'll have to see what happens over the summer.

After his junior hockey career ends, he said he'd like to pursue his post-secondary education and lace up his skates for a university team.