Castlegar native Patrick Zubick has been recognized as the goaltender of the year for the Superior International Hockey League.
Zubick is in the midst of playoffs with the Junior A Dryden GM Ice Dogs and the award is likely to boost his confidence on the ice.
According to the SIJHL, “In 29 appearances during the campaign, the 20-year-old Castlegar, B.C. product posted a solid 21-4-3-0 record and led all SIJHL netminders in both goals-against average and save percentage at 2.30 and .931 respectively. He also registered one shutout.”
This is the first time someone from the Ice Dogs has won the goalie award.
“It’s a pretty awesome,” said Zubick. “Obviously, it is a pretty big honour — there have been lots of big name goalies who have won the award… It’s cool to be on the same list as guys like that.”
“It is kind of a combination of all the work and sacrifices you put in before hand,” he explained.
This is Zubick’s last year of junior hockey, but he hopes to move on to play college hockey next year.
During the off season, Zubick returns to Castlegar to work and “Live it up in the Kootenays — get out and about and enjoy what the area has to offer.”
His parents, Brad and Kathleen Zubick, are very proud of his accomplishments. They haven’t been able to travel to Ontario to see him play very much, but are able to watch him play on the internet.
“When I was a kid, there was no way I had the single-minded focus to be able to give so much to one thing,” said Kathleen. “What I have wanted for him is to love the game when he is done playing it, so that he will give back — to coach, to teach — and he has done all of that already.”
“As a parent — you are just so proud of the choices he made and his ability to keep that focus,” concluded Kathleen. “Yes, he has had a stellar performance on the ice; but really and truly, what I love about hockey… is what it teaches them for life-long living and goals. Some of those things he will take with him — getting through adversity, working through difficult things, even though you think you deserve it — not getting it.”
Zubick wants to express his appreciation to all those who have helped him along the way. “Thank you to all of the people who have pushed me to this point in my life — the family, the coaches, my girlfriend,” he said.