Other than the ending on the scoreboard, it probably couldn’t have been scripted better.

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Kaleb Dietsch made his debut as a full-time member of the Ottawa 67’s last Thursday night in St. Catharines before a crowd that included a large contingent of family and friends all there to cheer him on.

The NOTL minor hockey graduate, who was drafted 46th overall from the Southern Tier Admirals by Ottawa in 2023, spent most of last year plying his trade with the Jr. A Ottawa Senators.

He was added to the 67’s Ontario Hockey League roster after Christmas.

The lanky 6-foot-3 defenceman didn’t get into a lot of games, but he practised and worked out with the OHL club daily, all in preparation for staying with the big club this season.

Then early this past summer, during a post-season workout with his trainer, Dietsch, 17, felt something wrong in his right shoulder.

It “came out,” something he’d experienced a few times before. Usually, the discomfort lasted only a minute or two, but this time was different and his trainer urged him to get it looked at.

An MRI revealed a torn labrum (the cartilage that keeps the shoulder stable and in place). So, within short order Dietsch was undergoing surgery in London, Ont., under the care of Dr. Robert Litchfield, a renowned orthopedic surgeon.

That meant instead of working out and skating, he spent much of the summer resting and recovering — and eventually rehabilitating the shoulder in hopes of returning to the lineup.

“It was hard, really hard,” Dietsch said in a post on the 67’s website.

 “I went from doing all this stuff every day, to sitting in my recliner for a week in front of my TV watching eight movies a day. I couldn’t even move. I mean, it’s pretty boring.”

But all his hard work at rehab paid off and now tipping the scales at 195 pounds, he was game-ready sooner than expected.

So, when the 67’s travelled to Niagara last week, Dietsch was with them and hit the ice at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.

With so many friends and family members in attendance, “I was nervous. I wanted to make sure I played well in front of them,” he told The Lake Report.

The nerves quickly evaporated and he settled in for his regular shifts and had a solid game on the blueline.

The IceDogs are the top team in the OHL’s eastern division so far this season, while the 67’s have struggled. But Thursday’s match went to overtime before Niagara edged the visitors 5-4.

Dietsch was happy with his own play and figures if a few bounces had gone his team’s way, they could have pulled off the upset win.

“I thought we were outplaying them a lot. We just got unlucky,” he said.

“We showed we can play with them,” so he’s confident the 67’s will find their game as the season goes on.

The fans on hand for Dietsch, including his cousin Colton, who brought along a big sign to welcome him back, were thrilled for him.

Dad Paul Dietsch said, “It was a proud moment for Natasha and I and Liam, as well as Kaleb’s extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins and his Nanny Brown. And friends from Niagara.”

“It was so special to see all his hard work and determination through the summer pay off. He was extremely motivated to return.”

Paul and his brother Matt are well-known in NOTL as proprietors of the Sandtrap Pub and Grill on Mary Street.

And last Wednesday night they had a return visit from some very hungry special guests.

“The whole team went there to eat,” Kaleb said.

The 67’s took over a large section of the restaurant to chow down. They’d stopped in last year as well, but this time, considering the trauma Dietsch endured with his injured shoulder, it seemed a fitting way to get ready for his return to the lineup.

And looking ahead, he said he’s determined to continue working on his game and getting stronger.

“I don’t really care about points too much, because that’s not my role,” Dietsch said. “I’m the guy who will grind and get the puck back for us.”