A retired goaltender still having fun...

I went to practice today in the Dispatch Ice Haus and happened to see one of the goaltenders with a red goalie mask. Immediately, I assumed it was Wade Dubielewicz that had switched masks and now was going with the different color instead of blue. I was wrong, actually. I happened to notice shortly I texted Jess with this information that Dubielewicz was in fact at the other end of the ice, opposite of Steve Mason. I asked Jeff Rimer, play-by-play announcer of FS Ohio for the Blue Jackets, who it was and Jeff told me it was actually one of the goaltenders from Ohio State. I told Sam and he was excited, because he covers the Ohio State men's hockey team for 610 AM WTVN here in Columbus.

Come to find out instead that he was indeed an Ohio State goaltender, but a former one. He played for the Buckeyes from 2000-2004 and did fairly well. During his four years, he went 73-57-11 with three shutouts, a save percentage right around .900 and a GAA close to 2.60. He went on to play in the ECHL for three years. After this, he told me he decided to leave the game because he knew he would not make it to the NHL level. He is now currently studying at Ohio State with hopes of going back to Africa and helping people who are suffering from poverty. It was a great chance to talk to a young man who genuinely wants to help other people and was refreshing to see.

This was not his first time in pads against the Blue Jackets either. Betz told me he's done this before a few times, which I'm sure he enjoyed going against NHL talent and playing the game he still loves, even if it's for only a few minutes. Heck, he just watched for the first hour while Mason and Dubie took all of the drills in net. Then he finally got some time in Mason's net while the Blue Jackets players took slap shots at him and various wristers from close-range. Jared Boll seemed particulary effective against him, more so than some of the other players, and I thought that was interesting.

It was a great opportunity to talk to him and provided that I see him again or gather his contact information, I would like him to appear on the show or call in. I believe he would be a great person to spread his story and to tell people why he cares about people thousands of miles away.

I look forward to our show tomorrow at 1 p.m. If you're listening, feel free to call us at anytime. 614-333-5300. E-mail us at bluejacketsracket@yahoo.com

BK out!