Matt Hubbauer’s hockey career can be likened to a ride on a roller coaster, experiencing both highs and lows. 

Hubbauer played 282 games of Junior hockey for the Regina Pats from 1998-2003 where he was voted “Fan Favorite” in four out of his five years with the team.  Years later, in 2012 during a children’s hospital visit in Regina, Saskatchewan, Edmonton Oilers star Jordan Eberle noted, “The Pats were a big thing for me.  I had idols when I was growing up; guys like Josh Holden and Matt Hubbauer.” 

This puts in perspective Hubbauer’s accomplishments during his junior career.

Coming off his most successful junior year in 2002 as a 19-year old, where he notched 48 goals (coincidentally, only Jordan Eberle has since scored more for Regina with 50), Hubbauer started having nosebleeds.  After undergoing a series of tests, a tumour was discovered in his sinus cavity.  “It was a real shock,” explained Hubbauer.  “I went to my first NHL camp with the Detroit Red Wings, which was unbelievable being on the ice with Brett Hull, Sergei Fedorov, and Brendan Shanahan, and then two weeks later I am told I may never play hockey again.” 

Doctors were unsure if the tumor was benign but it required an invasive surgery, threatening not only Hubbauer’s hockey career, but more importantly, his life.  “I didn’t believe the doctors that told me I would never play again.  I always had in the back of my head that I would get the surgery done and get back on the ice.” 

Remarkably, Hubbauer returned to the ice six weeks after the surgery and finished the season with the Regina Pats playing 32 games.  Hubbauer lost 15 pounds after the surgery but was determined to return to the ice.  “I pushed the envelope and got back on the ice a little sooner then I should have.”

During Hubbauer’s first year out of junior, he received a free agent tryout with the Boston Bruins.  He was assigned to the Bruins’ American Hockey League affiliate in Providence after the main camp, and eventually to their ECHL affiliate which at the time was based in Atlantic City.  After limited ice time in Atlantic City, Hubbauer decided to attend the University of Manitoba.

After attending school for a winter semester and playing 6 games for the University of Manitoba hockey team, Hubbauer still had the passion and desire to play hockey in the pro ranks.  “I wasn’t ready to give up on my hockey career,” said Hubbauer looking back at the decision. 

That spring, Hubbauer was a contestant on the CBC reality show “Making the Cut” which followed a group of amateur hockey players through a two week training camp, competing for six invitations to NHL training camps.  “I was strictly there for the NHL tryout, that was my dream.”  The reality show pared down 4,200 hopefuls to 18 finalists who were assessed by NHL personnel including legendary coaches Scotty Bowman and Mike Keenan.  During the TV series, Hubbauer earned a walk-on try-out with the AHL’s St. Johns Maple Leafs.  He played the entire season for St. Johns, suiting up for 51 games and registering 8 points before the finale of the show where he won an invitation to the Calgary Flames training camp.

Hubbauer would eventually be released from his try-out with the Flames, and headed to Europe to continue his professional career.  “It was a great experience seeing the world and learning different cultures.  The hockey was very different with more skating and skill and less physicality.  European leagues play less games so the schedule wasn’t as grueling as North American hockey.”

Hubbauer played four seasons in Europe before deciding to return to North America after his former assistant coach with the St. John’s Maple Leafs, Kevin McClelland, was named the head coach of the Wichita Thunder in the Central Hockey League. Hubbauer played 2 games for Wichita that season before suffering a concussion.  “Doctor’s weren’t going to clear me so I started thinking my career was over.” 

This was during a time when concussions were drawing significant media attention in the wake of Sidney Crosby’s much publicized concussion.  Hubbauer believes that, “Crosby opened the eyes of a lot of people when he received his concussion.  Once the best player in hockey got hurt, it attracted a lot of attention to the issue of concussions.”  Hubbauer returned to Wichita for a season ending physical at which point, he was still suffering from post concussion syndrome. 

This was the unfortunate end to Hubbauer’s playing career.  He then sought out guidance from his union, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), about how to handle his career ending injury. 

With the assistance of the PHPA, Hubbauer filed a workers’ compensation claim.  “Workers’ compensation protection is important, and I think some players take it for granted.  They don’t realize that they could suffer a season ending injury or a career ending injury and their livelihood is gone in an instant.” 

Hubbauer was eventually awarded a settlement to cover his medical expenses.

After being granted the compensation however, the former owner of Wichita filed a lawsuit against Hubbauer for alleged fraud and subsequently attempted to recoup losses from the workers’ compensation benefit award, as well as salary paid during the period of injury. 

A professional hockey player getting sued by the owner of their former professional team is rare and makes Hubbauer’s story even more interesting.  “Without the PHPA, I would have been in a terrible position.”  The owner argued that Hubbauer had lied to team doctors about his previous concussion history, which was false.  The PHPA was able to protect Hubbauer’s rights as a player and successfully defended the claim with the assistance of their panel of workers’ compensation attorneys.  “As a player going through the process, you really appreciate why the union is there,” said Hubbauer reflecting on the situation.

Hubbauer is currently in his third year of a bachelor of physical education degree at the University of Manitoba and plans on becoming a high school physical education teacher.  He volunteers at a Winnipeg high school as the head coach of the hockey team.  “The closest thing to playing is being behind the bench,” explained Hubbauer about his current role. 

He hopes to teach his players, “how to be respectful and accountable for their actions on and off the ice.”  He believes it is important they develop as individuals but show them that hard work will pay off not only on the ice but in life.   

Hubbauer experienced both highs and lows throughout his professional hockey career.  It’s a safe bet no other high school physical education teacher will have this type of life experience.