67's Quinn eager to prove himself

If you're confined to a hotel room in Red Deer, Alta., it's only natural to spend your time watching Sons of Anarchy, right?

At least that's where Jack Quinn of the Ottawa 67's was on Monday, enjoying the day off after a hectic opening week as part of Canada's world junior team evaluation camp, as the squad hopes to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

On Tuesday, it will be back to the ice again for another intense week of workouts, culminating in weekend games against a team of university all-stars.

Regardless of what happens with the NHL and the OHL from here — if and when those leagues restart, Quinn could either be with the 67's or the Buffalo Sabres in the New Year — he's ecstatic to compete at an elite pace.

That is something special, considering the general state of silence at most high elite hockey levels right now.

“Being here with more than 40 great hockey players, it's a great camp, the best of the best,” Quinn said by telephone. “I spent the whole summer off-season waiting. You get a little anxious. You want to play. It's great for us who were able to go to a camp with a great coach, a great opportunity.”

Quinn carried additional confidence with him when he arrived in Red Deer, officially signing his three-year entry level deal with Buffalo on Nov. 16. The Sabres drafted Quinn eighth overall at October's NHL entry draft.

“I wasn't surprised,” he said. “I knew my agent was dealing with Buffalo, but it was great that it worked out before I left Ottawa.”

While there might normally be some anxiety about a potential training camp with the Sabres, Quinn doesn't know much more than the rest of us about when NHL owners and the players' association will be able to resolve their differences to organize a shortened season.

Fortunately for him, he's in the midst of another spirited camp.

Given that national junior coach Andre Tourigny is in charge, Quinn isn't surprised by the energy of the workouts. Tourigny is also head coach and vice president of hockey operations for the 67's — but he says it took a few days for everyone to settle in.

“Right off the bat, it was super intense and we got right into things,” Quinn said of the change from his makeshift practice routines in Ottawa. “We all adapted. After a long layoff, it's a lot different. It's a little bit about rust, but it's just hard to replicate that competitiveness and up-tempo (speed).”

The camp will continue until mid-December, when the final cuts are made and the remaining roster stays for the world junior tournament in Edmonton.

Canada opens the tournament Dec. 26 against Germany, a team that is expected to include Tim Stuetzle, the Ottawa Senators' third overall draft selection at October's draft.

While in his bubble, Quinn has also kept in touch with former

67's teammate Marco Rossi.

Rossi has played only one game with the Zurich Lions in Switzerland's National League after testing positive for COVID-19, but he is expected to play for his native Austria at the tournament.

Health-wise, Canada is taking no chances. A “non-core member” of the staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, according to Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada senior VP of national teams.

Senators prospect Ridly Greig, who tested positive before the opening of camp and didn't take part in the first week, has joined the camp this week. Accordingly, players are being asked to stay in their own rooms, except for when going to and from the rink. Quinn is rooming with Hendrix Lapierre, the Gatineau native who was drafted 22nd overall by the Washington Capitals at October's NHL draft.

Monday was a solid Netflix day for both of them at the world junior camp.