When Trail Smoke Eaters head coach and GM Eric Thurston told Cade De St. Hubert he is the team’s new assistant captain, Thurston told the Minnesota native he is like the Swiss army knife he takes while camping.
De St. Hubert said: “Coach, when I go hunting, I take my rifle.”
The 19-year-old centreman takes his new responsibility very seriously.
“It’s a great honour to be named assistant captain of this group,” De St. Hubert told Vista Radio.
“Just to be a leader and continue to help out the locker room it’s definitely an honour,” he affirmed.
De St. Hubert has come a long way since being a walk-on at the Minnesota identification camp in the summer of 2024.
“I think it’s good to look back on that stuff and I’m definitely a little reflecting on that and proud of what I’ve done and been able to accomplish here and just want to thank the people who have been supporting me and the coaching staff for even giving me the chance to try out for this team,” he added.
De St. Hubert had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Cranbrook at Cominco Arena and is riding a six-game consecutive game points streak heading into games this weekend in Okotoks and Sherwood Park.
He feels that success is based on sticking with the basics.
“When you play the right way, the points will come,” said Cade.
“That’s what I have been kind of focusing on, just playing hard and continuing to play with that level of grit,” he explained, and points out success and overcoming adversity takes an entire team on and off the ice.
“The biggest part is leaning on your line mates and leaning on your companions and the people you trust and your family so whenever I face adversity, I think it’s the best turn upward and turn for help and ask for help and just continue to trust in yourself and in your game to when you’re on the ice.”
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