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Tim Graham

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Jason Simon recently returned from his dream, and it wasn't an enjoyable experience.

Over the weekend, the rugged forward came back to the Las Vegas Thunder after spending a week in the National Hockey League with the Phoenix Coyotes. It was a time Simon would just as soon forget, if only he hadn't learned so much.

"My ultimate goal, ever since I was 5 years old, is being in the NHL and being able to do something to help my team win," Simon said. "That's my job, which I didn't feel they let me do."

Entering his 11th season, Simon had only caught a glimpse of the NHL. He played in four games with New York Islanders in 1993-94.

But playing in Las Vegas, through an agreement with Phoenix, Simon figured to get another shot this season. Being so close geographically, the odds favored a quick call-up in case a Coyote got hurt.

He and fellow Thunder Kevin Dahl received such a call Oct. 30 and joined the Coyotes in Edmonton. But neither dressed or played.

Simon got his latest shot Nov. 11, but it wasn't much better than his first. He skated one shift in two games.

"If you're going to call me up, give me a couple games," pleaded Simon, who leads the Thunder with 95 penalty minutes. "I'm not asking for much, just a couple shifts a period to let me do some hitting, fighting and whatever I have to do.

"All I'm asking for is a legitimate shot."

The promotion and demotion of a player can be trying. He goes from the elation of the call-up to the reality of limited playing time. Then, the next step generally is a return to the minors.

That's when it's important to keep a proper perspective.

"The very first time I got called up and sent back down, the next day I was depressed," Simon said. "But I just said to myself 'There's no way I should be depressed.'

"I just have to keep working hard, and when the chance comes I have to ready. There are no days I will take off. I have to be on the top of my game."

The key to getting back, according to Simon and Dahl, is to soak in the entire NHL experience, remember it and make sure there's a next time.

"You have to do whatever you can every night, every game," Dahl said. "Otherwise, you don't get called back up.

"The NHL is the best league in the world. Everything is first-class and you get treated like you're one of the best players in the world, and for someone to get the taste of it, you definitely want to get it back."

Said Simon; "It makes you more hungry. You get a taste of the good life and you want to be there."

Thunderbolts

* BASHKATOV HONORED: Thunder center Egor Bashkatov was named the International Hockey League's player of the week. Bashkatov scored half of his 10 goals this season in the Thunder's last three games and turned in a three-goal, two-assist performance in Las Vegas' 6-4 victory over Utah last Tuesday. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound Moscow native leads all current Thunder players in goal scoring. Sergei Zholtok has 11 goals, but now is playing with the NHL's Ottawa Senators.

* THREE'S COMPANY: The Thunder had a little fun during Monday's workout at the Santa Fe Ice Arena with a diverting 3-on-3 intrasquad scrimmage. Because of his thin roster, head coach Chris McSorley donned a practice jersey and played for one side. "I was just reminded why this is a young man's game," McSorley said repeatedly. New backup goaltender Andrei Mezin, singed over the weekend from the Flint Generals of the Colonial Hockey League, led his group to victory by allowing just two goals. No. 1 netminder Parris Duffus gave up 12.

* DOUBLE-THREAT RHETT: Enforcer Rhett Trombley has three goals this season -- one shy of his career high in 1994-95 -- on just six shots. Entering this season, Trombley had scored just nine goals in 209 career games. The 6-3, 235-pound forward is second on the Thunder in penalty minutes with 73.