Back in August, Ross Mauermann was wondering if he was going to be playing hockey this winter.

He is, just as he has been since he was old enough to wear a pair of skates at 18 months old.

Now 26, Mauermann couldn't have imagined experiencing what he has in the past four months. The period has been filled with overseas travel, family-history lessons and, of course, hockey, along with a hospital stay.

Mauermann was concerned about his hockey future in August. He spent last season playing for Springfield in the American Hockey League. That was his first professional stop after playing four years at Providence College and scoring 53 goals.

But the Springfield franchise relocated to Arizona, and fired the head coach.

“With all that going on, it's tough,” Mauermann said Wednesday evening.

It was Wednesday evening in Janesville. Where Mauermann was talking, it was early Thursday morning. More on that in a moment.