He is only 16-years-old but clearly, that hasn’t stopped him from getting the job done against guys a few years older than him. The T.G. Smith Centre was the venue and with eight minutes left, Brayden Dube scored a goal that has sent the Dauphin Kings to the Centennial Cup.
It’s not often that a 16-year-old will send a junior hockey team to the national championships but the young sensation from Roblin has done just that. Brayden finished his first MJHL playoffs with three goals and six assists.
“It was the best feeling ever, especially getting the game-winning goal,” said Dube. “There’s no better feeling than winning a championship, especially with such a great group of guys.”
The line of Dube, Logan Calder and Mathew Rathbone has been a big reason for the team’s success. They were firing on all cylinders in the final and combined for three points in game seven. It’s a line that wins a ton of battles and when they get the puck on their stick, they have found a way to put it in the back of the net. They’re now hoping to ride that momentum into nationals.
“We have some really good chemistry between us,” said Dube. “We’re really good friends off the ice as well so I believe that helps us play together on the ice. We’re looking forward to playing together on the national stage, it’s going to be a great challenge.”
Dube says there will be some pressure playing in a national championship; however, he believes the team is confident and they’re ready to play the best teams in Canada.
“We just have to focus on doing the things that help us succeed,” said Dube. “If we play hard the entire game and play as one unit, we’re confident.”
One of Brayden’s highlights of the playoffs was playing in front of the amazing fans at Credit Union Place. Nearly 1500 fans packed into the rink for game six and a group of nearly 300 made their way to Steinbach for game seven.
“That’s what it’s all about, so much passion and energy,” offered Dube. “We love that support and we appreciate it.”