Celebrating with a MIAC Championship title is how the Hamline Pipers men’s hockey senior defenseman and team captain Joe Rubbelke wants to end his senior year.

“It’s definitely exciting to go out with a little bang here,” Joe said. “It was a rough stretch for the two previous years not winning many games and now we’re competing to play for a championship, so it’s definitely exciting and a fun way to end my career here at Hamline.”

This season the Pipers are tied for third place in the MIAC after sweeping the Augsburg Auggies last weekend on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14. Joe also scored his second goal of the season in Saturday’s 6-5 overtime win over the Auggies, the goal marked his 16th point this season and 63rd in his career as a Piper, which places him at 13 on Hamline’s all-time point list.

The Pipers only have one remaining home-and-away conference series, which is this weekend when they play Saint Mary’s. For Joe, the four year starter, he has an opportunity to reach the playoffs with the Pipers for the first time since he was a first-year.

“Right now we control our own destiny, we’re right there in the mix,” Joe said. “It’s definitely cool to see that all evolving right now, and being able to put ourselves in that spotlight.”

The past two years Joe had to suffer through two losing seasons where the team had a combined record of 3-41-6 and he missed the final eight games of his junior year with a shoulder injury.

His father Jim Rubbelke, also Hamline’s softball head coach, said through it all Joe always remained positive.

“It’s great he stuck with it and was very positive about the whole thing. To be rewarded for it with a good year at the end,” Jim said, “it’s just awesome for him.”

Inspired by watching his father play hockey, Joe has been skating since he was three years old. He also played baseball and football and said that what he loves most about playing sports is competition. During those tough years on the men’s hockey team Joe said his love for the game is what pulled him through.

“I love to compete. I’ve always been a super competitive guy and just being able to have that opportunity…definitely drives you to get out there and keep playing,” Joe said.

Joe said the turning point was right when current men’s hockey head coach Cory Laylin was hired. Joe said the team knew of his reputation and felt confident they’d win more games.

“You have a chance to compete for a championship and truly believe that,” Joe cited Laylin’s message to the team upon arrival.

Joe said along with Laylin’s winning attitude he also recruited talent.

“We have a lot of talent this year and it’s fun to play with a bunch of playmakers that can make plays and score goals,” Joe said.

Laylin said he prefers to build a team from the back end to the forwards and when he knew he was acquiring Joe he was excited. He paid close attention to Joe since he was an athlete in high school when he transferred to North High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Joe was a multi-sport athlete in hockey, football and baseball. Laylin says he still sees the inner quarterback in Joe on the ice.

“He’s a good pass first defensivemen that helps calm everything down so it’s not chaotic,” Laylin said. “He can make plays from behind, in the way like a quarterback, you want to have someone that will be able to distribute the puck…he’s used to being that guy.”

Jim said no matter what sport Joe played he always had a high IQ.

“Smart athlete,” Jim said. “No matter what sport he played he learned the game really well. He definitely picked up on things very quickly.”

Jim and Laylin both agree that he’s a great leader by example on and off the rink. Laylin also elaborated and said his demeanor brings a calmness to the Pipers and keeps the intense players on the Pipers grounded in tense situations.

“That’s very valuable to us,” Laylin said.

With the season and his collegiate career winding down and the Pipers in the playoff mix there is one scenario Joe wants to see play out.

“If there’s any way to go out a MIAC Championship that is how I want to end it. There would be no better way than to end it with that…we first got to get to the playoffs but we have the potential to win a MIAC Championship this year,” Joe said.

Laylin said during this stretch the team is playing for Joe and the other four seniors: Austin Cihak, Sam Leslie, Josh Gaughan and Andrew Herbert.

“Those five guys are great people. They worked hard in school, they worked hard on the ice and we really want to send them off the right way,” Laylin said.

Laylin said he thinks Joe will be key getting this team over that edge in the playoffs.

“I think his best is yet to come here,” Laylin said. “He’s the guy that we’re hoping [will be] the guy in the playoffs for us.”