Wade Dubielewicz

Playing career

Wade Dubielewicz started his junior career with the Columbia Valley Rockies in the KIJHL in Invermere, British Columbia, then played for Trail in the BCHL during the 1998–99 season, and finished his junior hockey with the Chilliwack Chiefs the following year. He also suited up for the Junior A Fernie Ghostriders in the now-dormant RMJHL in Fernie, British Columbia, before heading to the University of Denver. As a junior at Denver in 2001–02, he led the team to the NCAA tournament. He turned down a contract worth over a million dollars from the NHL to return for his senior season and complete his degree.

After four years with the Pioneers, Dubielewicz signed with the New York Islanders as an undrafted free agent on May 26, 2003. He was assigned to the Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he quickly became a fan favorite at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Known as "Dubie," he set several AHL and Sound Tigers records that still stood as of 2009, including most career shutouts (15) and wins (81), as well as the highest single-season save percentage (.946) and goals-against average (1.38) during the 2003–04 season, surpassing marks held by Rick DiPietro. That same year, he won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's top rookie.

Dubielewicz made his first NHL appearance of the 2006–07 season on March 15, 2007, relieving Mike Dunham. He started the Islanders' final five regular-season games, posting a 4–1–0 record. On April 8, 2007, in the season finale against the New Jersey Devils, he allowed a goal to John Madden with 0.7 seconds left in regulation, but then stopped the Devils in the shootout to secure a 3–2 victory. That win sent the Islanders into the playoffs as the eighth seed and knocked the Toronto Maple Leafs out of contention. He made his postseason debut on April 12, 2007, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing four goals on 35 shots in a 4–1 loss. Rick DiPietro started Game 2 after recovering from an injury.