WATERLOO - It seemed like a long season.

It also seemed like a short stay.

Such was Joe Pavelski's first tour of the National Hockey League.

A former Waterloo Black Hawk and University of Wisconsin forward, Pavelski joined the San Jose Sharks in November following a brief stint in the American Hockey League at Worcester. He played in 46 regular-season games, scoring 14 goals and dishing out 14 assists. An ankle injury, later diagnosed as a fracture, put him on the sidelines.

Leaving the injured list in mid-February, Pavelski finished 2006-2007 at San Jose and endured a disappointing finish. Detroit eliminated the Sharks in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

"It was a season that was kind of like three seasons," said Pavelski, who is spending part of his summer here. "There was the first part of it, then the injury, then the post-injury and the playoffs. It takes a toll when you play that many games at that high a level, especially when the guys are so skilled. I have to be on top of my game every day, so it takes a little more out of you when you play at that level."

For all the adjustments, the injury, the rehab and the crushing early exit from the playoffs, Pavelski is an NHL player now. Few reach that perch at all. Still, the man who helped the Black Hawks win the Clark Cup three years ago is not ready to put his feet up in satisfaction.

"I was a little bit right away, but to get a taste of it for 46 games is not enough," said Pavelski. "When all you want to do is sit back and really enjoy getting there, it'll probably be a pretty short career.

"When you get there and you get a taste of it, you don't want to be satisfied. You want to make a nice career of it. The level of play is so high here and the guys are having a great time. You can tell that by looking around the locker room. Everybody loves what they're doing."

Quickly, Pavelski learned to love the skills displayed by stars like fellow San Jose Shark Joe Thornton. Pavelski's own NHL rookie year began impressively. Then his production tapered off. Then a puck smacked Pavelski on his ankle.

He regrouped, of course. While watching and playing against the NHL's best, Pavelski learned one thing about his own game. He had to get stronger.

"It's been the primary question going over my whole career - if I was ready," he said. "I handled it pretty good, but a lot of the game here is puck possession - having the puck on your stick. Another big part is not turning it over. So you've got to be able to win the battles - hold guys off. That comes down to more strength.

"My skating has also been an issue with me before. But with more strength, I'll become a better skater. So strength is the No. 1 issue right now."

Pavelski is getting help in that department from a familiar face. Mike Potenza, the Sharks' strength and conditioning coach, occupied the same post during Pavelski's college hockey career at Wisconsin. The two of them were part of the Badgers' national championship in 2006.

That's not the only way Pavelski has tapped his hockey roots. During the offseason, he has attended some of the Waterloo Black Hawks' camps. He maintains a close relationship with his old USHL coach, P.K. O'Handley.

With a wedding to Waterloo resident Sarah Peters on the personal schedule in July, life seems to be flying by since the Clark Cup in 2005.

"It's been three or four years, but it feels like two," said Pavelski. "It's happened so fast. I've been learning so much from the juniors to college right to the pros."

While Pavelski wants to extend what's been a short stay in San Jose, he has tasted a bit of the success he enjoyed in Waterloo and Wisconsin.

"I was kind of disappointed in how we finished and stuff, but you can't really have too much better of a season," he said. "With the team we have and some of the people I got to meet, I had a lot of fun and I learned a ton about the game and about myself."

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com