CORNER BROOK - With a name like Kilabuk, one of the Western NL Subways brightest - and largest - new wingers, is bound to get a nickname or two.
"Killer" is the most likely of these and gets plenty of use, but the rhyming "Kill The Puck" is one of the more creative names. Watching the six-foot-four 200-pound kid hammer the puck quickly explains why the rhyme makes sense.
Kilabuk Qupee, an Innu hockey player from Sheshatshiu, Labrador is currently billeting with a hockey family in Corner Brook while playing with the Western NL Subways in the Newfoundland and Labrador Major Midget Hockey League. Since the folding of the Labrador Huskies over two years ago, Qupee falls into the Subways' jurisdiction.
Qupee is the son of Dave and Anastatia. Anastasia Qupee is the current chief of the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation. It is fortunate for the Subways and for the 15-year-old Qupee, according to coach Terry Billard. Billard said the young talent needed to play higher calibre hockey that was available to him at home. Qupee agreed. He said there is little enough a hockey player his age to do in Sheshatshiu if he really wants to improve his game.
Qupee started hockey in the novice bracket as a six-year-old in Sheshatshiu, which has a population of about 1,000. He said there weren't a lot of kids who played the game.
Billard met Qupee first when he co-hosted hockey camps while living in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
"He is a big kid and he normally played defence," Billard said, noting he was always tall.
"I moved him up to forward because at the moment his defensive capabilities as a first-year midget weren't really up to par so I moved him up to forward, because I think he is better as a forward at the moment."
Goals have been a precious commodity so far this season for the Subways, but Qupee has tagged his first marker already to go along with a pair of assists.
The decision for him to come to Corner Brook was an inevitable one if he wants to continue his dream of getting drafted into the QMJHL. For that, the Subways are a good platform. Two players from last year's team are now playing with team in that league.
"He is going to garner some looks because of his size and he is not a bad hockey player," the coach said. "He is a pretty rugged player."
Qupee approves of the program so far.
"It is pretty good and getting better," said Qupee of his experience with the Subways so far this season. "I am getting used to it."
He said he was surprised by the talent level on some of the other teams, especially the Fog Devils.
"They are a lot better," he said.
He also said he finds Corner Brook to be a nice place to live, but he is mainly here for the hockey. Of course, being away from home for such a long time takes its toll on a young man. Qupee has taken this long weekend to travel home and spend some time with family and friends.
The Subways are hosting the Tri-Pen Frost tonight starting 7:30 p.m. at the Pepsi Centre. The second game of the weekend set starts at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.
