Quintin Unreiner has signed with the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
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Quintin Unreiner, defenceman for the South Alberta Hockey Academy men’s U18 Prep team, is making the jump to the Alberta Junior Hockey League after signing with the Calgary Canucks after his two games on June 19 and 20.
Unreiner says he was getting onto the bus after the team’s last game when Canuck’s head coach and general manager Brad Moran approached him.
“He said he wanted me to play there next year,” said Unreiner. “I gave him all my info, we chatted a bit, then talked for a few days and had a few phone calls and then he sent me some papers. I signed them and that was it.”
SAHA was only able to play two games to end the season, but Unreiner says the contract means his hard work during practice and at the gym have paid off.
“It’s awesome. I’ve been working out, working everywhere, just putting in all the work just to get to the next level and to finally get a reward, or something back in return, it’s awesome and a great feeling,” he said.
Unreiner says he also got calls from a team in the BCHL and a few from the KIJHL in British Columbia, but he wanted to stay close to home in Alberta. He says Calgary is getting a good skater with high hockey IQ, with a good work ethic and a player who never quits – SAHA head coach Brayden Desjardins agrees with the evaluation.
“He’s an unbelievable skater, super smooth. His conditioning is unbelievable, I think that’s another thing that stood out over the weekend is just how in shape he is and that’s just something he took upon himself,” said Desjardins. “We played with a pretty short bench over the weekend and he must have played probably close to 30 minutes in both games and he didn’t even look like he was tired by the end of it.”
Desjardins says Unreiner was also a leader in the dressing room and leading a group of guys when you don’t play games is tricky, but he was up to the task.
I thought he did a great job in that role, he’s a super happy kid, super energetic, he brings a work ethic and energy to the rink,” said Desjardins. “He’s going to fit in great in Calgary, but he’ll be a tough player to replace in our locker room, but I wish him nothing but the best.”
SAHA assistant coach, Torrin White, says he used his connections to try and get his players noticed by scouts. He says he was the facilitator, but players like Unreiner took advantage of the platform, especially during the team’s final two games.
“Quintin didn’t have a spot, so he had a lot of pressure and a lot to play for and he nailed it. Right after, he had an offer,” said White.
White echoed Desjardins’ comments and says the team is losing an outstanding player and person in Unreiner.
“This winter, getting to spend a lot of time with Quintin whether it was in the classroom or on the ice, he brings a very good vibe to the group and he’s what people would call a glue guy,” said White. “He’ll joke around with the other players and he’ll kind of straighten them out when things need to be straightened out and he always brings a lot of energy.”
