When Lee speaks, people listen," sophomore forward and roommate Brett Wilson explains. "It usually means he has something important to say."
Lee Jubinville, also a sophomore forward, has played a major part in the recent resurgence of the men's hockey team, which has won four of its last five games. In spite of his soft-spoken nature and small size — Jubinville is listed at five feet, 10 inches and 165 pounds, but admits that he is "probably closer to 5'8" and 160 [pounds.]" — he leads the team in assists with nine and is second in points to captain and linemate Darroll Powe, who has 14.
Indeed, Jubinville has been able to use his size to his advantage over the years.
"I've gotten used to being smaller," he said. "It gets more penalties called, and speed is a big thing."
Good-lookin' skater
Speed is one of the more important weapons in Jubinville's arsenal. Of the characters in the "Mighty Ducks" trilogy, he claimed to be most similar to fictional speedster Luis Mendoza.
"Except I can stop," he added.
Jubinville's skills are not limited to speed, however. Having put on some muscle since last season, he is now more physically confident, according to head coach Guy Gadowsky.
"Jubs is also confident with the puck and his speed," Gadowsky said. "He puts in tremendous effort on offense and defense — a great all-around player."
Jubinville's recent success isn't surprising considering his experience with and passion for the game. Like many Canadians, Jubinville picked up hockey early, starting when he was just five years old.
"My dad got me into it, and he taught me for nine years," said Jubinville, an Edmonton native. "Plus, we had season tickets for the Oilers, which helped."
Though Jubinville also played soccer and a season of basketball in high school, hockey was always his passion. After graduating from high school, Jubinville put higher education on hold and played for the Camrose Kodiaks, a junior team in Canada, for two years. Many of Jubinville's teammates at Princeton also played for junior teams up north. As a result, they are often a year or two older than most of their classmates.
"Being older helps on the hockey side of things," Jubinville said. "You're a bit stronger when you come to college."
Old Nassau comes calling
Despite the fact that Jubinville played a starring role in the Kodiaks' league championship and advancement to the national championships in 2004-05, Princeton's interest in him "came out of nowhere."
Shortly after hearing then-assistant coach Jason Lammers' recruiting pitch, Jubinville decided that Old Nassau was the place for him.
"I knew about the academic prestige, and they had great coaches who were turning the program around," he said. "I knew the workload would be pretty tough but also knew that the hockey side would be awesome."
Though Jubinville was moving cross-continent and heading back to school for the first time in nearly two years, it didn't take him long to get acclimated.
"The first month was probably the toughest," he said. "Just trying to get back into studies and start rolling again."
Last year, in his freshman season, Jubinville played in all but one game, netting three goals and adding seven assists for a total of 10 points. More valuable to Jubinville was the experience he gained through the season. He credits much of it to sitting next to then-captain Pat Neundorfer '06 on the bench.
The 2005-06 also marked Jubinville's reunion with Wilson. The two had played against each other eight times a year in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"I already knew he had a lot of speed," Wilson said. "He's hard to check, hard to defend."
Though Wilson outshone his roommate last year by netting 21 points and claiming the No. 16 jersey — both had grown up wearing the number — Jubinville, now wearing No. 6, seems to have caught up this season.
Gadowsky also gives Jubinville much of the credit for the team's recent turnaround.
"Five years ago, the team was getting outshot by nine or 10 goals a game — now it's the other way around," he says. "Time of possession has become a strength of ours and Jubs is a big factor in that, especially with his ability to carry the puck."
Since Gadowsky made Jubinville and Powe linemates a few weeks ago, the team is on fire, and Jubinville has tallied six points in his last four games. The two were also paired last seaon.
For the second consecutive year, Jubinville is sitting next to the team captain, trying to learn whatever he can from Powe.
"He's hardworking on and off the ice," Jubinville said of Powe.
Princeton kind of hockey
Jubinville's recent success hasn't changed his outlook, however, as his goals remain the same as they were at the outset of the season. The consummate teammate, Jubinville prefers to think more in terms of the entire team, rather than focusing on himself.
"Jubs isn't necessarily one of the loudest guys," Gadowsky said. "But he leads by example because he works hard on and off the ice. He's a perfect example of the Princeton kind of hockey."
"The real goal is to continue to improve and try to focus on what I can control," he said. "I don't really have any individual goals, but as a team we'd like to get a playoff series at home."
Jubinville also hopes that the team's fan base will grow, especially if the Tigers are able to string together a few winning seasons.
While hockey takes up much of his time — "The season runs pretty long," he said — Jubinville's activities off the ice are not much different from those of the average Princeton student.
"I pretty much do the usual things," he said. "Homework, Madden football, the Street on Saturdays. I've been loving it."
As for the future, Jubinville, an economics major, would like to keep playing in North America or somewhere in Europe.
"After that, I'm not too sure," he said. "But really, I'm just focusing on right now."
Gadowsky, for his part, has high hopes for Jubinville.
"The most dangerous players are those with speed," he says. "Jubs is too quick, too fast, plus he's added strength. His potential is whatever he wants it to be."
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