BRACKNELL, UK – If you type Bracknell in to a popular search engine you may stumble across some less than complimentary observations. ‘A wasted town full of chavs and scummers, it’s even worse than Southampton’ moans one website oblivious to the fact that such creatures inhabit most towns and cities across the UK and also that Southampton probably isn’t that bad. One new arrival to the Berkshire town is Canadian defence man Blair Dubyk. The Saskatoon native is no stranger to hard graft both on the ice and off it: “I worked two hours north of Fort McMurray, Alberta as a welder’s helper on a natural gas pipeline. I had to stand on a 2×2 platform handing the welder tools for five hours in minus 55 Celsius. Because I couldn’t walk around and warm up, I started to shrug my shoulders as I got cold. When I finished the weld, it took two hours of warming up before I could lower my shoulders, and for three weeks after I had a tingling sensation in my shoulder and right arm. The doctor said I had temporary nerve damage due to shrugging my shoulders so tight for so long”. Dubyk made his first appearance in the ENL for the Haringey Greyhounds last season in what turned out to be a disappointing campaign for the North London outfit. Despite offers from several teams over the summer, Dubyk opted for the switch to Bracknell and certainly hasn’t regretted it: “Coach Cox has made the switch from Haringey to Bracknell easy; in fact the whole team has made it easy. I am one of the “older” guys apart from Mark McCoy, so some of the younger guys have been asking for my Canadian expertise, like how to perfect the delivery of bone crushing open ice hits”. Despite building a strong roster the Hornets have struggled for consistency in the opening fixtures and are currently standing in fifth place with seven points. Dubyk admits that some tough fixtures and a growing injury list have not helped their cause: “We haven’t had the easiest first eight games, playing five games against three of the strongest teams in Chelmsford, Invicta, and Cardiff. Injuries have plagued the team with Grant Rounding, Jason Falsetta and Dom Hopkins all missing games. Craig Tribe returned from vacation, took a high stick in his first game and ended up with zippers”. 
Despite the shaky start Dubyk is confident of a strong season ahead for the Hornets: “Invicta are once again a well oiled machine. Though I don’t think they are as strong as last year, and have stiffer competition with Cardiff and Chelmsford. I think Invicta will be much like their payroll, on top! I think we’ll be right in there with them and in the top three”. The Hornets face a tricky tie against Oxford in their next game and then a relatively easy fixture against struggling Peterborough. Dubyk and his team mates will be hoping the injury concerns ease and that no more zippers* are needed for any of them. Thanks for reading and stay safe. Carrsy * zippers are stitches apparently Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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