1. Page 22  MONCTON WILDCATS COLLECTOR’S EDITION  PLAYOFFS 2015
Swimming legend Mark Spitz once
said ``Life is true to form; records
are meant to be broken.’’ There are
some records, however, that seem
almost untouchable in today’s sporting
landscape such as Joe Dimaggio’s 56-
game hitting streak in 1941 or Wayne
Gretzky’s 215 points in 1985-86 with
the Edmonton Oilers.
When the 2014-15 Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League season began,
a Moncton Wildcats team record
loomed on the horizon. From 2001-
05 goaltender Corey Crawford, now
a Stanley Cup winner with the the
Chicago Blackhawks, was a standout
for the Wildcats.
WhenCrawford’sfour-yeartenurewas
over in Moncton, he had established
a franchise record for career wins by
a goaltender with 96. After recording
30-win seasons in 2012-13 and 2013-
14, fan favorite Alex Dubeau knew
that if he had a solid final season
with the Wildcats, Crawford’s record
was in his grasp.
``In the back of my mind, I knew
I had a shot at it,’’ said Dubeau, a
20-year-old native of Mascouche,
Que. ``I want to win every game.
When you start the season you look
at how many wins you can reach. My
goal this season was 40 wins and with
the team I had in front of me I knew
it possible.’’
Dubeau’s five-year QMJHL career
began in 2010 after he was drafted
in the first round, ninth overall, by
the Shawinigan Cataractes. After
two seasons with the Cataractes,
including a 2012 Memorial Cup win,
he was acquired by Moncton prior to
the 2012-13 season.
``I have been very fortunate to
play on some really good teams here
in Moncton,’’ he said. ``We have never
really been in a restructuring mode and
that has certainly helped my career.’’
Dubeau had already established
a Moncton franchise record for most
career wins by a goaltender with 97
when there was two weeks remaining
on the schedule. While that’s special
to him, his focus remained having a
strong finish to the regular season
and long playoff run.
``I think the record will be special
to me when I get older and have a
family and they see what kind of a
junior career I had,’’ he said. ``My main
goal right now is to finish the regular
season on a positive note and carry
that momentum into the playoffs for
a shot at the President Cup. I would
love to give this to the fans of the
Moncton Wildcats.’’
Dubeau also has his sights set on
his future after the Wildcats.
``If I don’t go pro, I will be going
to UNB (University of New Brunswick),’’
he said. ``It’s a great program and
like the Wildcats they are committed
to winning. However, I would love
to get drafted and going deep into
the playoffs will help me get more
recognition which will benefit me in
the long run and increase my chances
to get to the NHL or AHL.’’
See Dubeau and the Wildcats battle
in the playoffs for the league title and
trip to the Memorial Cup. Call506-382-
5555 to reserve your tickets today.
ROGER WHITE
MONCTON WILDCATS PLAy-By-PLAy ANNOUNCEr
Alex
The
Great