Charlottetown Islanders’ Simon Dubois finds baseball home in P.E.I.

Charlottetown Islanders’ Outfielder Simon Dubois Finds Success in Prince Edward Island

Simon Dubois, a 24-year-old outfielder from Stittsville, Ontario, has found a new home in Prince Edward Island, both on and off the baseball field. Dubois arrived in the province four years ago to attend the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), where he studied business with a specialization in finance and a minor in economics.

After graduating from UPEI in May 2026, Dubois reflected on his decision to come to the island. “One of my friends from back home told me he was applying to UPEI, so I figured I may as well join him,” he said in a phone interview. During his time at UPEI, Dubois also took courses at Holland College to become eligible to play in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association for the Hurricanes. The following season, UPEI fielded a baseball team, and Dubois helped the Panthers win the 2026 ACBA championship in their inaugural campaign.

Dubois’ baseball career in Prince Edward Island took a significant turn when he joined the Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders for their 2025 season. The team had a remarkable year, winning the Baseball Canada national senior men’s championship and their third straight New Brunswick Senior Baseball League title. Dubois was drawn to the Islanders because of their reputation as a prestigious organization. “I figured if I stayed in the summertime, I wanted to play for the Islanders, just because what I had been told was that it’s a prestigious organization. It’s top class, and they treat everyone well,” he said.

Dubois’ transition to the Islanders was made easier by the team’s welcoming atmosphere. “It felt like I found a new family here joining this team,” he said. “I could go up to any one of those guys and ask them anything or tell them anything, and they will be the nicest people to me ever.” The team’s chemistry has been a key factor in their success, with Dubois noting, “Our team chemistry, I can’t compare it to anything.”

On the field, Dubois has made a significant impact, batting .438 in 64 at-bats and scoring 18 runs in 2025. Islanders head coach Doug Hines praised Dubois’ performance, saying, “When he started, he wasn’t playing all the time, but very early on we realized that we didn’t have a choice but to play him.” Dubois has become a crucial part of the team’s offense, often batting at the top of the order. “He’s on base all the time and he’s a threat to run,” Hines said. “He really is a prototypical lead-off batter… Plus, he has power; he can hit the gaps; he can hit for singles; he can steal a base.”

In the 2026 season, Dubois is currently fourth in the league batting race with a .384 average. He credits the team’s depth for his success, saying, “The best thing about this team is every single time I go up to bat, I never need to try to do too much because I know the guy behind me is just as good as I am and that even if I just hit a single or I get out, I know he’s going to do a good job and he’s going to score that run if I don’t.”

Defensively, Dubois forms a strong outfield trio with right-fielder Duncan Picketts and centre-fielder Jack Kraft. He is also capable of playing centre and right field when needed. “Our outfield, in my opinion, I think we can get to any single ball that’s in the outfield,” Dubois said. “Our range is perfect.”

Dubois’ speed is another key aspect of his game, allowing him to put pressure on the opponent’s defense. “I’m a firm believer that in baseball, you don’t do a lot of running, so whenever you do have the chance to run, you might as well run 100 per cent and I try to sprint out of the box every single time,” he said.

The Islanders are set to close out their regular season with a home game against the Fredericton Royals on August 8. A win would clinch at least second place and home-field advantage in the best-of-seven semifinal series. Dubois is looking forward to the challenge, saying, “Absolutely meaningful baseball is the best baseball you can play. When things are on the line, that’s when people show what they’re made of. I like rising up to the occasion and playing my best baseball then.”

Article and image source: saltwire.com