(Columbus) A hockey environment being what it is, teasing is fair game in the Ohio State Buckeyes locker room. And of course, for those players who work away from the spotlight, any team member who is the subject of a story exposes themselves to ridicule.
The hope of Canadian Jakub Dobes is no exception on Tuesday. While we try to frame this 6’4″ guy in a photo, his teammate Stephen Halliday is having fun.
“You know, the other day in training, I gave him a sunburn,” he says.
Due to an obvious lack of sleep, he is asked to explain himself, not getting the very obvious joke on the first try.
“Because the red light kept flashing behind him!” »
Halliday hops onto the rink, but Dobes instead rushes back to his residence on his tiny electric bicycle.
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
Jakub Dobes on his (very modest) electric bicycle
This season, the Czech goalkeeper, choice of 5e Habs tour in 2020, started each of the Buckeyes’ 14 games. In the entire NCAA, he comes in at 2e rank of goaltenders for minutes played this season. Last year, Dobes had started 35 of the 37 meetings of his people. If the development goes through a good volume of matches, the great Czech is served to perfection!
“I appreciate that trust from the coaches and I try to give it back to them,” he said humbly.
Intriguing Hope
Last year, Dobes caused a surprise by winning in his first year of university. His 21-12-2 record, 2.26 GAA and .934 save efficiency earned him Big Ten Goalie of the Year honors and a selection as one of 11 Trophy “semi-finalists.” Mike Richter, which awards the NCAA’s top goaltender.
This year, his stats have dipped slightly: 8-5-1 record, 2.34 GAA, .915 save. But Ohio State goalie coach Dustin Carlson is under no illusions; he’s confident he’ll need to find another No. 1 goalie well before 2025, which is Dobes’ final year of eligibility.
It’s wishful thinking to believe that he will play his four years here. If there is another year left, it will be fantastic.
Dustin Carlson, Ohio State Buckeyes goalie coach
“From the start, we knew he was special. His size obviously commands attention, but he doesn’t move like a guy of his size. He likes to go out and handle the puck a lot. Now we are working on his efficiency, so that he no longer aims for the long pass, because his defenders are already good at relaunching the attack. As for stopping the pucks, I try to get him to let the play come to him, so the puck hits him. »
Dobes, like any college player, refuses to speculate on his future.
“I have to finish the season well. We can talk then. I will make the decision that will be best for me in the long run,” he says.
Listening to him describe his relationship with the Canadian, however, we feel that the organization is following him closely. He clearly seems to admire Rob Ramage, whom he describes as “excellent”.
“Every time he is here, I see him. I also see him in the summer because I’m in St. Louis and that’s where he lives, so we often eat together, he’s always super nice, he treats me well. Vincent Riendeau was here recently, we ate together. The members of the management take good care of me and I have no worries. I love them a lot. They gave me a chance at the repechage, so it’s a great opportunity for the future. »
long scarcity
Dobes is definitely not near the NHL. At 21, he remains a long-term project; to be convinced, it is enough to note that only one goalkeeper of this age evolves in the NHL this season. And that’s Spencer Knight, a top prospect on a talented team.
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
Jakub Dobes
But it will be interesting to see if he ends the organization’s long search for talent in goal. Since the Habs claimed Carey Price at 5e rank in 2005, only one goalkeeper drafted by the CH ended up playing a game with the team. This is Cayden Primeau, who played 18 games with CH. Of the eight other goaltenders drafted by Montreal since Price, only Zachary Fucale has reached the NHL, and his experience is limited to four games so far, all with Washington.
Either way, if Dobes ends up in Montreal, he won’t be entirely in uncharted territory. He got to know a few players, including Filip Mesar and Jan Mysak, at development camp. And every time the Canadian plays in Columbus, he tries to watch the game. At the time of speaking to him, he hadn’t confirmed anything, but hoped to attend Wednesday’s duel. He was there last Thursday.
The ones he noticed? “Caufield and Suzuki, obviously. But I really like Guhle too. He will be a really good player, judging by the amount of minutes he plays. He is an excellent skater and for his age, knowing all the pressure on him, he is very good. »
Hide those ‘M’s that I can’t see
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
A curiosity on the Ohio State campus this week: almost everywhere, the letters “M” which appear in the signage are crossed out with adhesive tape. It is that as tradition dictates, the Ohio State football team will face the University of Michigan this Saturday, at the end of the season. It will then be the start of the playoffs. Each year, these two colleges meet at the end of the season, one year in Columbus, the other in Ann Arbor. Around here, the “M” is crossed out in retaliation for the University of Michigan, whose logo is a yellow “M”, as seen on the Steiner brothers’ coats in the WWF in 1993.
Guillaume Lefrancois, The Press