DUBE MAKING STRONG PUSH FOR ROSTER SPOT
Impressive rookie can handle pressure on and off the ice, writes
Another day at the Calgary Flames’ training camp.
Another day with microphones shoved in Dillon Dube’s face.
It’s been a daily occurrence these past two weeks as the 20-year-old centre continues to draw a crowd in his — temporary? — stall at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Since the main, veteran-laden group has been busy in China, Dube has been grabbing headlines in Calgary and has quickly become a go-to quote, sound-bite, and video clip for reporters in the dressing room.
And, after a pair of eyecatching rookie games and two pre-season clashes, it has been rightfully earned.
“I’m kind of used to it, with the world juniors and things like that,” Dube said heading into a much needed day off on Thursday.
“In Kelowna, you didn’t get too much (media attention). You’re creating relationships, and obviously, it’s good. You don’t want to have a bad rep because this is my first real exposure to it. It’s been nice being around here, and obviously my parents get to look things up and see me in the paper and stuff.”
For better or worse, media exposure is part of being a professional hockey player, and Dube is getting first-hand experience on a daily basis as he auditions for the Flames’ opening night roster.
He’s close, at least after scoring a hat-trick in Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers before counting an assist in Wednesday’s 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He seems to gain a step with each passing day.
And performances like the Cochrane native’s most recent outings tend to draw attention. Like, for example, his betweenperiod interview with Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy on the live National Hockey League broadcast of Wednesday’s game.
“I’m not on Twitter so I don’t really see it, and as a player, I don’t think you really want to see it. I don’t like listening to myself talk,” said Dube.
“It’s good (to be recognized) but I don’t need to see myself on websites and stuff. You can get too high and I know lots of guys that have (read) bad things about themselves and that’s not really good going into camp.
“When you’re soaring high, obviously it’s good. It makes you feel good, for sure. But if you have a bad game, I can’t be going upanddown.”
The approach is almost as mature as his game on the ice, which has made people in these parts optimistic.
Word did, no doubt, travel all the way to China and to Brad Treliving ’s laptop regarding Dube’s training camp — which is his first legitimate shot at cracking the NHL roster after graduating from the Kelowna Rockets this spring.
“It’s even more nerve-racking because you want to do things to get yourself noticed ( by the Flames’ brass) over there,” Dube said.
“It’s hard. You put too much pressure on yourself, but it’s their job to recognize you. They’re trying to win Stanley Cups and pick their best players, so they’re going to be watching you. They’re going to be watching every single guy in this camp.
“They might even be watching us (in Calgary) with more detail on video. It’s not like a game atmosphere where things happen fast, so you have to be dialed in.”
With six more pre-season clashes remaining, competition is only going to increase, especially with the Flames’ main roster returning to the Saddledome as early as Friday.
Many key veteran players could sit out Friday’s road clash against the Winnipeg Jets to rest and acclimatize themselves back in the Mountain Standard Time zone.
Still, the gears will shift, and Dube knows he’ll need to elevate his game.
“Last year, I knew 100 per cent that I was going back to junior,” Dube said. “I came here and that almost played into my advantage, just being able to have fun. And when I played in that split squad game, it was the coolest thing ever, in front of my friends and family.
“Now, it’s more of a business. There aren’t really any tickets given out. It’s just my parents who are watching me. It’s not a charity event anymore. It’s time to bear down and make a team, and not just Calgary. If I’m in Stockton, it’s learning how to be a pro every single day. It’s a lot different mindset. This is my lifestyle now.”
They’re trying to win Stanley Cups and pick their best players, so they’re going to be watching you. They’re going to be watching every single guy in this camp.