Chris Dube
Number: 12
Position: Forward
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195
Birthday: 1-16-78
Hometown: Lewiston, Maine
Last team: Kimball Union Prep

Player Biography

Chris comes to the Buccaneers from the Kimball Union Wildcats, a Division 1 prep school. He had 10 goals and 15 assists with the Wildcats last season. Chris enjoys playing volleyball and plans to be a Marketing Consultant after college.

Player Interview

2/11/98

Steve: Chris, where were you born and where do you call home?

Chris: I was born in Lewiston, Maine. I think it is the most northeastern state in the country. I am pretty sure about that. I was born January 16, 1978.

Steve: Do you know Matty Libby?

Chris: Yes, I do know Matt Libby. I played on quite a few all star teams with Matt. He is a good kid.

Steve: What was it like growing up in Maine?

Chris: I guess somewhat the same as anywhere else in the country. We focus a lot on winter sports because it seems like in Maine the winters are long and harsh. So hockey and winter sports, skiing and all that stuff, is pretty big up there. So that is how I occupy most of my time.

Steve: Tell me about your family.

Chris: My parents are divorced. They got divorced when I was five years old, and they have both remarried. I have three brothers and one step-sister.

Steve: And they are both from Maine?

Chris: Yeah, they are both from Maine. Both are from Lewiston actually.

Steve: Have any of your family been able to see you play as a Buc?

Chris: My dad hasn’t had the chance to come out. He is going to be coming out in March. My mom and my step-dad go on business trips to Wisconsin and places like that for their business, so they get a chance to swing by Iowa and see me play. They have been out three times this year.

Steve: How did you start playing hockey?

Chris: I know I was five years old when I started. Actually, I had just turned five. I think it was just because it was kind of the cool thing to do at the time. I had seen high school hockey games and things like that. I was like, “Wow! That looks really cool when you see the NHL on TV.” So I guess that is kind of the influences that I looked at to start playing hockey.

Steve: When did you know or decide you wanted to pursue hockey full time?

Chris: I think I would say after my first year of hockey because I loved it so much. I can tell you the first day I hated it because I couldn’t skate and my dad got me up there with all my new equipment on, and I couldn’t really skate that much so I was kind of disappointed. But after I got the knack of skating and the whole perception of the game, I knew right then that I wanted to keep pursuing hockey. Seeing college games and things like that, and watching the Maine Black Bears when I was a young kid, I set out on a dream to try and make a Division I hockey team.

Steve: Have you always played your current position?

Chris: Right now I play left wing. It is kind of funny because I have played various positions. I have actually played goalie a couple of times. I liked that but I started out playing center. When you are a little kid, you don’t really concentrate on a certain position. You want to get to know the entire game. So like I said, I have played goalie and I have played defense. Playing forward has been the most exciting for me. Just like any other kid, you want to score goals and impress mom and dad. I think that is the position that I really found fit for me and was the most fun.

Steve: What teams have you played for then?

Chris: So many. I started playing in a youth hockey league in Lewiston. Then from there I made various traveling teams that traveled through all of the northeast and the east coast. Then as I grew up, I made all star teams in higher age groups that traveled all throughout the country. I have even made a couple teams that went to Sweeden and Finland on a European tour. Last year I played Division I prep school, and before prep school I played for Lewiston High School, my city hockey team. Last year while playing at prep school, the Buccaneers saw me in a tournament and asked me to come and try out for this team and here I am.

Steve: For the people who are reading this, explain to us what a prep school is. I don’t really understand that whole thing.

Chris: Prep schools are really numerous on the east coast. Prep school is short for preparatory school. It is a private boarding school that most of the time you are away from home. You live in almost a college environment. You live in dorms and you do your own laundry, and you are kind of on your own for the first time. I graduated from Lewiston High School and I wanted to get a better grasp of living on my own and having my own responsibilities, so I saw prep school was the next step to bettering my education, playing a higher level of hockey, and kind of being on my own and taking my own responsibilities. You go there for schooling. I went there for hockey and other athletics and to kind of try and find my own way in life.

Steve: So the Bucs were scouting you there?

Chris: Yeah.

Steve: What are some of the things that you like about playing for the Bucs?

Chris: Everything! It is such a new experience for me. I had never played junior hockey before. Before last year I really wasn’t that interested in junior hockey. I have always heard of the Des Moines Buccaneers because a couple players from my city (Lewiston) have played for the Buccaneers in the past; Eric Geoffroy, the goalie, and Jeff Guay, a defense man who is playing in the NHL. That is how I kind of knew what the Buccaneers were, but it never really clicked until last year. The crowds are amazing. It is kind of overwhelming at times because people are like, “Hi, Chris. Good game!” I am not used to that. I am used to sort of going to the rink, getting the job done, and then you go away and you have your own self satisfaction and your parents there to tell you that you played well. Now there are thousands of people watching you and saying, “Great game.” The coaching staff is great. They are always there for you if you have any questions or problems or anything like that, so it is great.

Steve: What are the differences between playing a road game and a home game?

Chris: A lot! There are a lot of differences. The crowd and how they pump you up at home. They want to see their home team win. When you are on the road, you don’t have that. You have the other team kind of hoping that you are going to lose and not play well, so their team wins. So there is a lot of momentum when you are playing in your home building, and there is not really that much when you are away. It is kind of a cold, quiet situation.

Steve: At times the Bucs do have quite a few people going on road games. Do you notice that they are there?

Chris: Oh, definitely! When we score and the entire arena goes sour, you will have that one or two sections that are screaming their heads off and honking the horns and raising the flags. It is great to have those people there cheering you on.

Steve: It is exciting for us to be there too because we are outnumbered by people giving us the evil eye. It makes it more fun, I think. Are there certain teams you would rather play or not play?

Chris: I am going to have to say no because of what I have come to learn from playing in this league for only one year. I really didn’t realize this at first. I got kind of the perception that there are some not so good teams in this league and then there are some great teams. But on any given night, any team can beat any other team whether you are in last place or first place. It has happened to us a couple times this year. There are a lot of great players in this league and you can’t underestimate anybody at anytime because they can come out on top, no matter what night it is.

Steve: Do you have a favorite college or pro team?

Chris: My favorite college team is the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. I have wanted to play there ever since I was a junior in high school. That is why I have taken this course because that is where I want to end up in my college career. Of course, with the pro team it would be the Boston Bruins because they are very close to my home. I am only 2 _ hours away from the Fleet Center, so they are the team I watch.

Steve: What are your future hockey plans in New Hampshire.

Chris: I am going to go play at the University of New Hampshire next year. Hopefully things will work out with that. That has been my dream for a long time. Ever since I was a little kid, as I said before. Basically that is what I have set my sights on and the course of action I have taken with my hockey and everything of that sort, that is where I have wanted to go is a Division I college team.

Steve: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in hockey?

Chris: The most embarrassing thing is probably one game when I was a first year squirt. I was probably one of the youngest kids on the team.

Steve: What is a squirt?

Chris: I think that is age 11 and 12. I was 11 years old and I was playing with 12 and 13 year olds. There is not suppose to be any checking, but it gets a little bit physical in the corner when you are being a little competitive, especially at that age. I went to the corner to get the puck, and as I skated out, I was given a little check and then I got hooked with a stick and the buckle on my pants broke and my pants started to fall down as I was skating out of the corner. The next thing I new, I am trying to skate and my pants are down around my knees, so that was kind of embarrassing.

Steve: Anybody in the crowd notice?

Chris: Oh, yeah! There were a couple laughs and giggles. I got a little red and skated right to the bench while pulling up my pants.

Steve: What is your favorite food and dessert?

Chris: My favorite food? I am kind of a health freak, and I like to eat real healthy. I want to say my favorite food is probably spaghetti with meat sauce.

Steve: Okay. Dessert?

Chris: I don’t really have a favorite dessert. Everybody has the craving for junk food sometimes, but I don’t really eat that much dessert. When I do, I am going to say chocolate cream pie.

Steve: What type of music do you like?

Chris: I listen to all kinds of music. I would say probably some rock and roll and maybe R & B.

Steve: Do you have a favorite movie?

Chris: My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Steve: Do you like any special kind of car or anything?

Chris: I think I am going to have to say a Toyota 4-Runner. They are really sweet looking, plus a lot of room.

Steve: Do people consider you shy or out going?

Chris: I think I am going to say a little bit of both because there are times when I won’t say anything, but there are other times that I will really speak up and try to take a leadership role when things are going in a direction that doesn’t really benefit the situation I am in or I want to change that. So I will put my two cents in and try to help out.

Steve: What type of a girl do you prefer?

Chris: This is kind of a hard question. I am going to have to say independent. I might take a little bit of flack for that, but independent. I am kind of a tall guy so I kind of like a shorter girl; probably 5'6" or 5'7" or around there. I like long hair. Just an out going person, great personality. I guess everything that any other person would want, just basic stuff.

Steve: What do you do with your summers then? Do you go back home?

Chris: Yeah, I go back home. Actually in the summertime I train for hockey and I also play in a beach volleyball circuit.

Steve: What other hobbies or interests do you like?

Chris: In the summer, like I said, I play beach volleyball and join a lot of tournaments and stuff like that. Last summer I started a sport called wake boarding. It is kind of like snow boarding on water. That was pretty interesting to get into that. I love it now! I go jet skiing, water sports, go to the beach, outdoor stuff. I really like to be outdoors and camp and things like that, especially with my friends.