A few words about Dubie

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/28/2007 02:41:00 PM | |

















First a little background to dispel any myth this is a minor league goaltender who is over his head.

As a Sound Tiger, Dubielewicz has claimed numerous records for shutouts (15), saves in a game (52) and highest save percentage in a season (.946), which is also an AHL record. His numbers throughout the 2006-07 season were once again stellar posting a 22-12-5 record with a .922 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average. Those numbers earned him a spot on the Canadian All-Star roster.

Named to National Collegiate Athletic Association (West) All-American Second Team, 2001-02.
Named to Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Star First Team, 2001-02.
Finalist, Hobey Baker Memorial Award, 2001-02.
Named American Hockey League Rookie of the Month, December 2003.
Named to American Hockey League All-Rookie Team, 2003-04.
Named to American Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 2003-04.
Shared (with Dieter Kochan) Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Trophy (AHL - Fewest goals against), 2003-04.
Winner, Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Trophy (AHL - Rookie of the Year), 2003-04.
Selected to Canadian All-Stars (AHL), January 29, 2007.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Just because our media does a brutal job letting us know the background of players does not mean you have to buy into it when they make judgements. It's up to you in the end but keep in mind some of these media people barely follow the Islanders much less their prospects are the ones who create perceptions about players.

I followed Dubie as a prospect writer and several NHL teams wanted to sign him when he was at Denver. This is a two time all star AHL goaltender who set all time league records as a rookie for Bridgeport. His last AHL playoff series against WBS he did everything but steal the series from the first seed that year.

For those curious here is a summary of Bridgeport's 2003-04 playoff series against first ranked WBS Scranton Penguins, Dubie played every game in the seven game loss and gave his club every chance to win before finally falling in seven games
here.

Some of these games he flat out stole for Bridgeport while WBS kept changing between Marc-Andre Fleury and Danny Sabourin.

Wade Dubielewicz is an NHL goaltender and has the ability to be a starter in this league. His resume in Denver and Bridgeport have been outstanding and he thrives on work and shots. He has nothing to prove in the AHL any longer and in some very limited looks won critical games for the Islanders, not only last season but in 03-04
when he won a huge game in Philadelphia.

If Rick DiPietro cannot go for a while there is no rush to bring him back. Dubie will give the Islanders every reasonable chance to win hockey games.