While spending four years in Chicoutimi balancing his studies in natural sciences with playing defence for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Saguenéens, he managed to both maintain an impressive 85% average and have a brilliant junior hockey career that won him the Marcel Robert Trophy, a Guy Lafleur Award of Excellence and the Canadian Hockey League Subway Scholastic Player of the Year.

Last year, the Gatineau native made a firm choice among several attractive offers from different universities to join the Ottawa Gee-Gees hockey team and study business management at the Telfer School of Management, even passing on the opportunity to turn pro in the East Coast Hockey League or in Europe.

“I wanted to win at the university level, and the Gee-Gees coach’s values sold me. I have always been the underdog.  The Gee-Gees approached me about rebuilding the program and told me they needed me,” said the young athlete.

Of course, the change of pace in the classroom and on the ice requires quick thinking and self-discipline, two things that come naturally to the 21-year-old. “I still dream of playing professionally, but I am a student now and that is a serious matter. My goal is to get my degree first.”

Dominic has already made some waves during his first year at the University of Ottawa by representing Canada at the 25th Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey as well as being on the radar of two NHL teams.

To find out more about Dominic Jalbert and the Gee-Gees’ hockey schedule, visit the Gee-Gees website.

Text: Peter Thornton
Photo: Mélanie Provencher