Iginla shakes off groin injury, returns to Calgary Flames training camp

Calgary Flames' Roman Cervenka, left, from the Czech Republic, watches from the owner's box with Jarome Iginla during training camp in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - Jarome Iginla practised at Flames training camp for the first time this season Wednesday. The captain believes he'll be ready to play in Sunday's season-opener against the San Jose Sharks.

The 35-year-old right-winger missed the first three days of training camp because of a groin injury.

"Thankfully I felt really good out there today," Iginla said following practice. "I didn't feel it and it felt way better than last week. Last week, it didn't feel very good at all.

"It was a good pace out there as a group and a good amount of volume. I didn't feel it today so hopefully it's issue that will never come up again."

The Flames were on the ice for two hours of drills and scrimmages Wednesday in front of about 400 people at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Iginla played on a line with Alex Tanguay, who was converted to centre, and Curtis Glencross.

Iginla is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this lockout-shortened season. He's entering the final year of a five-year deal paying him US$7 million per season.

He's been a Calgary Flame his entire NHL career since his rookie season in 1996-97. Iginla has played 1,188 career games and scored 20 goals or more per season for 14 of his 15 seasons in Calgary.

Iginla left the ice the first day of training camp for the 2011-2012 season with back spasms. He started skating again 11 days later.

Also, new Flames head coach Bob Hartley said he will give goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff a day off from the ice Thursday.

"He's been in net since Day 1 of camp by himself so tomorrow we're going to rest him," Hartley said.