CALGARY — The first thing Flames players see when they walk into the weight room at the Saddledome is a signed photo of Dillon Dub.
It was published a year ago by the training staff as a tribute to the team’s fitness test champion.
“Not the prettiest face to look at when you walk in every morning,” the 24-year-old winger laughed. “But I guess we’ll leave it for this year.”
In fact, they will, as Dube repeated as the fittest Flame earlier this week, beating veterans Trevor Lewis and Mikael Backlund.
As proud as he is of his status as a poster boy, it comes at a cost.
“The guys let me hear about it, that’s for sure, because of having my picture on there, but mainly because of the quote the coaches chose: ‘success is not accidental,'” he said of ammunition often used for friendlies. fire.
“I do not love it. I hear that quote 100 times a year from guys letting me know.”
Count Darryl Sutter as one of the few who won’t give Dube the gears to meet the team’s demands to improve his fitness.
Sutter has insisted how surprised he was by the team’s poor fitness levels when he rejoined the organization in March 2021.
The coach sent all the players home that summer with orders to focus on improving fitness levels, a mantra he repeated after last season as well.
“We’re significantly better than last year and last year we were significantly better than last year,” Sutter said.
“Dillon has been a leader in that regard since he got here.”
While Dube respects, listens and learns from the team’s veterans, he takes pride in helping set an example for others in terms of his fitness, which puts him in a very useful position in the locker room.
“Our team is not worried about who is in the Top 3, it is important that everyone is performing and improving a little bit,” he said.
“That is the highest compliment to our coaches and the programs they send.”
The product of nearby Cochrane, Ab., Dube has chosen to stay in Calgary every summer to work out under the guidance of Flames director of athletic performance Ryan van Asten and assistant strength and conditioning coach, Rick Davis.
They have helped the 5-foot-11, 185-pound winger grow and get stronger every year, as was his mandate since the Flames drafted him in the second round in 2016.
So what does all this mean, besides inviting squeaks from your teammates?
“The most important thing is that it gives you a lot of confidence at the beginning of the year that you work,” said Dube, who had career highs last year with 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games.
“I just wanted my numbers to be a little bit better than last year. RVA has the fitness numbers from when I was 18 years old to now, and every year they have gotten better.”
Sutter says one of the keys to this season will be in his group of 23-28-year-olds who had career years taking another step forward this season.
“I want to be the best player I can be for the team no matter where they play me,” the junior scoring sensation said.
“You’ve seen it over the years that I’ve been everywhere: center, left wing, right wing, first to fourth row. I need my game to excel in any role because we have a lot of moving pieces. I have to be ready for anyone.”
Dube began camp Thursday on the back row with Backlund and Blake Coleman, playing a role in which the versatile forward is comfortable.
What some may wonder is if he could eventually become the second-tier right winger this organization is desperately seeking.
“I’m comfortable moving it anywhere,” Sutter said. “We took it to the penalty spot last year and we want to continue to push it forward.”
“Starting in February and going into the playoffs, Dillon was a very good player for us. He is a versatile kid and as he grows and matures, everything in his game takes it a step further. Those are the key guys for our team. We have to see improvements in those players as we go forward.”
YOUNG WORLD QUESTION
One thing Dube was certainly ready for on Friday was a question about his time with the Canadian youth team he captained in 2018, which has come under scrutiny following sexual assault allegations in a lawsuit filed in London, Ontario. Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit earlier this year, but the story has since drawn national attention, leading to calls for changes at the highest levels of the sport. The NHL is conducting an independent investigation into the incident.
“I have been cooperative to the best of my ability and will continue to be cooperative,” he said.
“I’ve done my best to cooperate.”
