Canadiens' Bozon to play again after health scare

Montreal Canadiens prospect Tim Bozon is returning to competitive hockey more than four months after spending four weeks in a Saskatchewan hospital with a severe form of meningitis.

A 2012 third-round pick (No. 64) of the Canadiens, Bozon will play for France at an under-23 tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic that begins July 31.

Bozon, 20, was playing for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League when he was diagnosed with Neisseria meningitis March 1 after a 4-2 win against the Saskatoon Blades. He was taken to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon and spent part of his time there in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling around his brain.

He was released from the hospital March 28. Bozon has been working with Canadiens training staff and began skating June 5. He recently sent a message on Twitter expressing his excitement at playing again.

"Glad to join France national team again in less than two weeks!" Bozon tweeted Tuesday, along with the hashtags #BackPlayingGames, #Hockey and #BeenAWhile.

Bozon, the son of former NHL player Philippe Bozon, was born in St. Louis but grew up playing hockey in Switzerland before coming to North America. He has French citizenship through his father, who was born in France.

Joining France in the tournament are Dukla Jihlava, a top-division Czech club, plus club teams from Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

In 203 WHL games with the Ice and Kamloops Blazers, Tim Bozon has 105 goals and 231 points.