Jean-Sébastien Aubin
A journeyman NHL goaltender whose resilience was tested through injuries and frequent moves, he provided crucial depth for several franchises over a decade.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: July 19·Generation X
Biography
Jean-Sébastien Aubin's hockey life was one of perpetual motion and prepared readiness. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Quebec-born goalie showed flashes of brilliance early, famously posting a shutout in his first NHL start. But his path was never straightforward. Stuck behind established starters and battling injuries, Aubin became a quintessential backup and minor-league call-up, a player whose suitcase was always half-packed. His most sustained success came during the 2005-06 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he seized an opportunity during a starter's injury to win 9 of 11 decisions and briefly capture the city's imagination. His style was unorthodox and aggressive, a reflection of his competitive fire. While he never secured a permanent number-one job, Aubin's career spanned over a decade because he was always ready for the phone to ring, embodying the tough, transient life of a professional athlete on the fringe.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jean-Sébastien was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jean-Sébastien Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jean-Sébastien's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded a shutout in his first NHL start for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Boston Bruins in 1999.
- Won nine consecutive starts for the Toronto Maple Leafs during a hot streak in March 2006.
- Played 159 NHL games across six different teams over 11 seasons.
- Backstopped the Toronto St. John's Maple Leafs to the AHL's Calder Cup Final in 2005.
Did You Know?
He was known for his unique, butterfly-hybrid goaltending style and his colorful mask designs.
In the 2004 AHL playoffs, he led the Milwaukee Admirals to a Calder Cup championship, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP.
He played his final professional seasons in Europe, including stints in Germany and Austria.
His nickname among teammates and fans was often 'J.S.' or 'Auby'.
“A backup goalie's job is to be ready when the phone rings at 3 a.m.”
