DOBKO 5 FOR 5, NOW CHASING THE BIG ONE

Senior receiver Chris Dobko accomplished something on Saturday, November 9 very few Dinos have done. The talented receiver has been a member of five Hardy Cup Championship teams, but what is even more unique, Chris has been on the field against five different opponents in those Conference final games.

“It is pretty neat to have five CW medals but they are just a stepping stone to what is ahead (Vanier Cup),” states Dobko.

2013 has been a record setting year for the Edmonton native. Earlier this season he became the school’s all-time receiver, surpassing Don Blair’s total of 138 career receptions. Despite missing the final two games of the regular season Dobko finished the regular season with 33 receptions giving him 155 during his five year tenure with the Dinos and being named a Canada West All Star for the third time in his career.

“To break a record held by Don Blair is pretty surreal,” Dobko stated earlier in the year when asked by local media.

The graduate of Paul Kane High School in St. Albert has the distinction of dressing and competing in the Hardy Cup in each of his five seasons as a Dino. This journey began with an emotional win at Saskatchewan in 2009 which Dobko savoured as a rookie.

In 2011 Chris led Canada West with 56 receptions earning him a spot on the Canada West all-star squad. In 2012 despite missing a pair of games he hauled in 50 passes and once again garnered league all-star honours and as a CIS second team all-Canadian team. This past year he named to the Conference all-star team for the third consecutive year.

Chris is currently the school’s fourth leading receiver in total yards with 2107 in Conference play finishing just 64 yards behind Dave Brown’s third place total of 2171.  

What is even more amazing about Chris is he has survived heart surgery at a very early age, when he was a one year old he had two staples and a piece of fabric placed on his aorta to help heart function that is still present today.

“My dad convinced me to send a tape to Calgary and I decided to play a year of junior (Edmonton Wildcats) before coming to school,” Dobko stated in explaining his decision to travel south along the QE II to Calgary.

Chris’s parents Mark and Karen are both teachers in the Edmonton area but manage to attend many of the games. His father was an assistant coach with the Alberta Golden Bears basketball team under Don Horwood for a few years. So athletics and academics are very important to the Dobko family. Hopefully Chris can close out his career, with a diploma and a vanier cup ring.