ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: JAMES DOBROWOLSKI
*Cougars broadcaster Dan O’Connor spoke with former Cougars forward James Dobrowolski on Wednesday, June 15. Here are some excerpts from that conversation.
EXCEL PAINTING ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: James Dobrowolski (Vernon, BC)
– Played in Prince George for two seasons: 2009-10 and 2010-11
– 142 career games with the Cougars.
– An Alternate Captain in 2010-11.
– Lives in Edmonton, AB, recently graduated from the University of Alberta and won a National Championship with the Alberta Golden Bears in 2013-14.
DO: Just before the 2009-10 season James your phone rings. You find out that you’re on your way to Prince George. Talk about the day you found out and what that meant for you?
JD: That was a pretty crazy day. I was working in Vernon and went to check my phone at the end of the day and I saw a ton of missed calls, texts and voicemails. I called my coach back and he gave me the news. I was totally surprised. It caught me off guard at first but I thought about it and I was excited to head to BC to play in front of my family and friends in BC. It worked out really well in the end.
DO: Year one for you in Prince George was a breakout year for you. What was it that clicked for you that year in your mind?
JD: I started slow but once I got more comfortable I definitely found I got some opportunities that I wouldn’t have received in Prince Albert. Near Christmas things really started to go better. The team didn’t wasn’t going great, but my chemistry with Alex Rodgers and Nick Buonassisi was strong and we ended up going on a pretty good roll.
DO: Then we get to 2010-11, a great season for the team getting back to the playoffs. Before we talk about specifics from 2010-11, tell me what it meant to you to be named an alternate captain?
JD: I remember Dean Clark (head coach) calling me into the office and asking me if I felt I deserved to be an alternate captain. I remember giving him a speech as to why I felt like I deserved it. At the end he told me he agreed. That meant a lot to me. He then announced it to the team. It was a very proud moment for me.
To Listen to the complete conversation with James Dobrowolski, click below:
