Provided by Peter

From Wheat City to ECHL: The Quenneville story

Originally posted Dec 29, 2020.

Peter Quenneville started his junior hockey career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) with the Sherwood Park Crusaders where he played in 120 games (including playoffs).

After recording just 22 points in his first season, Quenneville became an elite offensive threat as he scored 31 times in 53 regular-season games and chipped in 50 assists the following season. In 10 playoff games, he scored four more times and had eight points.

Peter made the move south of the border after that season as he joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He finished eighth in league scoring with 70 points — 33 of which were goals — as the Fighting Saints went 45-11-1-7 and finished atop the Eastern Conference. They went on to beat Fargo in the league final as they were crowned USHL champions.

 

Quenneville and teammates with the Clark Cup – Photo: Dubuque Fighting Saints Facebook

After that season, he moved to Manitoba for the first time. Quenneville joined the Brandon Wheat Kings for the 2013-14 season. He quickly became a consistent offensive contributor with 51 points in just 44 regular-season games and he added another four points in eight playoff games that season.

Moving forward to the 2014-15 season, Quenneville was named Brandon’s captain. He led a team that included Jayce Hawryluk, Michael Ferland, and Brandon’s own, Tyler Coulter, to name a few. Also on the roster was John Quenneville, Peter’s brother.

“The experience to be able to play with John was pretty incredible,” said Quenneville. “It was a pretty special opportunity and we both loved it.”

The elder Quenneville’s 75 points in the regular season led Brandon to a 53-11-4-4 record, which won them the East Division by a whopping 29 points over the Regina Pats. The Kelowna Rockets went 53-13-5-1 that season to win the B.C. Division by 30 points. Both teams cruised in their first three series which put them up against one another in the championship final.

Leon Draisaitl ultimately scored the game-winning goal in game four as Kelowna swept Brandon to win the Western Hockey League.

Although it wasn’t the finish to his junior career that he had hoped for, Peter is grateful for the opportunities Brandon provided for him and the playoff run was something he will never forget.

“It was a lot of fun playing on that team. We had a lot of great guys that have played in the NHL,” said Quenneville. “It truly was a year I will never forget.”

Moving on:

Peter recorded 26 points with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones in the 2015-16 season. After just one season with the Cyclones, Quenneville embarked on the biggest change of his playing days as he moved overseas to play in Denmark for the 2016-17 season.

“I felt that I needed to sort of disappear a little bit. I needed to make a name for myself on the big ice,” said Quenneville. “I had the chance to work on some elements of my game that you have to on the big ice. It helped my skating a ton and my ability to carry the puck.”

From 2016 to 2019, Peter played 162 games (including playoffs) in Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, and Norway. His final season overseas saw him record 50 points in 48 regular-season games in Norway and he followed that up with another six playoff points in six games.

“Using those three years really helped me when I decided to come back, that’s for sure.” he offered.

North America bound:

When Peter returned, he joined the Rapid City Rush for the 2019-20 season and he was named the team’s captain. He played 51 games and scored 24 times while adding another 34 assists.

During the middle of the season, Quenneville was playing so well that he was called up by the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey and that’s where he reunited with his brother, John.

The brothers had the chance to play seven more games together as they have now played in the AJHL, WHL, and AHL together.

“That’s pretty crazy to think about, not many brothers get the chance to play with each other at the professional level, so it was pretty special,” offered Quenneville.