CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Chris McQuaid will feel more at home during home games this season.
The 19-year-old defenceman is bursting with joy after being dealt by the Gatineau Olympiques to the Charlottetown Islanders on the opening day of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) trade period.
“I couldn't be more excited,” he said Sunday night after the news broke.
“I am closer to my family and friends and I get to play for an organization I grew up watching,” he added. “I really wanted to be part of it and am just really happy that I can be.”
One of the newest @IslandersHKY stopped by the @EastlinkCtrPEI this afternoon. Charlottetown native Chris McQuaid had a chance to check out the team's dressing room and pull on his No. 16 Isles jersey for the first time. pic.twitter.com/Tu1u8hyNAu
— Guardian Sports (@SportsGuardian) December 16, 2019
McQuaid last played in his hometown with the Charlottetown Islanders major midget squad in 2014-15. He played half of a season with EC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria before joining the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild in major midget for the second half of the 2015-16 season.
McQuaid started his major junior career as far away from home as possible in the QMJHL, more than 1,700 kilometres northwest of Charlottetown in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., near the Ontario border. He was traded to the Olympiques after 1 ½ seasons but was still more than 1,300 kilometres from home.
He enjoyed his time in both communities but was ecstatic to find out he was heading back to the Island. McQuaid had spoken with Olympiques general manager Alain Sear prior to the trade period.
“He was aware going to Charlottetown was something I was very interested in,” he said. “He respected that, and I was fortunate enough he made a deal happen for me.”
McQuaid said his first call after finding out about the trade was to his parents, Brent and Rosanne.
McQuaid already knows some of his new teammates.
“It’s a great locker room with a lot of good people,” he said.
The bond is tightest with Thomas Casey. The pair played together from novice to bantam AAA with the Abbies, won three provincial titles and were members of the 2013 Canada Games squad.
“Thomas and I are very close,” McQuaid said. “I am really looking forward to being able to play with him again.”
The two also work out together in the off-season.
“It was really cool to see him get traded here,” Casey said.
“We kind of went through everything together growing up and now to have a chance to play major junior with him will be a lot of fun.”
McQuaid is also a good student. He took a variety of correspondence and online courses plus some credits at Colonel Gray High School. He is in his second year of a business degree at UPEI and the trade will allow him to attend classes in person.
McQuaid goes from an Olympiques squad, which is last in the Western Conference, to a Charlottetown team that is fourth in the Eastern Conference.
“As a 19-year-old player, to be moved to a team that’s proven to be one of the better teams in the league and doing really well prior to the start of the trade period, it’s really exciting,” he said.
McQuaid was one of four moves the Islanders made on Sunday.
They also traded 19-year-old defenceman Xavier Bernard to Sherbrooke for draft picks, sent sophomore forward Xavier Fortin to Baie-Comeau for rookie forward Drew Elliott and acquired overage forward Ethan Crossman from Chicoutimi for picks.
Kevin Gursoy is the odd man out with teams only able to dress three overage players and the Islanders having goalie Matthew Welsh and captain Brendon Clavelle.
“We’re losing a lot of great teammates,” Casey said, but “we have some good players coming in.”
He said the team trusts head coach and general manager Jim Hulton, who has a proven track record for shrewd deals.
Baie-Comeau visited Charlottetown Nov. 20 when Casey was sidelined with an injury.
“I didn't play in the school day game and (Elliott) seemed like a really good player,” he said.
Casey played against Crossman growing up and with him on a spring team.
“He’s a great skater,” he said.
“The future looks bright here and it should be a really exciting second half.”
Related links
• Chris McQuaid looking to continue to develop following trade to Gatineau
• Islanders add Chris McQuaid, Ethan Crossman, Drew Elliott, plus draft picks
Need to know
Chris McQuaid
Who – A major junior hockey player from Charlottetown who turns 20 on New Year’s Day. He is a six-foot-two, 184-pound defenceman. He is a first cousin of NHL defenceman Adam McQuaid.
Draft – McQuaid was a second-round pick (31st overall) of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the 2016 draft at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. He was traded to the Gatineau Olympiques on Dec. 18, 2017.
The latest – Gatineau traded McQuaid to Charlottetown on Sunday for a sixth-round pick in 2021.
Debut – The Islanders first game after the Chrismas break is Dec. 28 in Moncton while their first home game is Dec. 29 against Acadie-Bathurst.
Calling card – McQuaid prides himself on his play in his own zone, but he can also make a good first pass, kill penalties and play against other team’s top offensive weapons.
Statistics
Season GP G A Pts. PIM
2016-17 55 3 6 9 44
2017-18 68 5 9 14 80
2018-19 35 1 4 5 45
2019-20 28 0 5 5 34
“I just feel so fortunate that I have been given the opportunity to go to my hometown team.”
Chris McQuaid, Charlottetown Islanders defenceman