THOUGH it almost prompts images of some crazy cartoon scene, Jozef Balej's impaled-by-his-own-stick injury in early 2006 was no laughing matter.

The serious kidney damage that ensued cost him five months of playing time and peace of mind for longer than that.

So much so that the speedy, skilled 25-year-old Slovakian retreated to playing in Switzerland last season. He took that career detour for several important reasons, all of which have indirectly led him back to the Manitoba Moose for 2007-08.

"Health reasons were No. 1," Balej said Monday at MTS Centre, about joining Fribourg-Gotteron to play with ex-Moose skaters Josh Holden and Peter Sarno last season. "After that long injury, five months, I still didn't feel like I was 100 per cent. Obviously the league is more physical here than over there."

The less-grinding 45-game schedule, including much less travel gave Balej's body some much-needed time to completely recover from the major shock of the stick/kidney trouble.

It also allowed him time for more important matters -- family. Major concerns, His father's heart attack and sister's illness were major concerns.

"Family and support, that comes ahead of everything," Balej said. "It was just an eight-hour drive and it was easy to get there. Everything's fine now."

And the fact that the Swiss team really wanted him was a bonus.

"They came up with a great offer. It sounds bad, but it's business, too," he said. "But it was for mostly health reasons I went, though."

Balej's plan, his dream, however, remained in hockey and in North America. And so once his and his family's health began improving, his desire shifted again.

"I've always wanted to play in the NHL and for me personally, when I set my goals, I wanted to do anything I could to reach it so it was important for me to come back," he said after a 13-goal, 30-point season in 37 games in Switzerland. "And to feel good. I love the organization. Everybody's treated me so well, Zinger (GM Craig Heisinger), everybody, so it's nice to be back."

The Moose and Vancouver Canucks liked what they saw the first time around. Balej, who has played 18 NHL games, scored 14 goals and 29 points in basically half an AHL season in 2005-06. His sunny disposition, not to mention his offensive abilities, figure to be welcome additions this season.

"I didn't feel 100 per cent physically, and mentally I was still thinking about it for a long time and I needed to get over that (injury)," he said. "I felt awesome last year and forgot about that injury. I've now put it behind me and I'm focusing on hockey."