STEPHEN RICCIO
SHAWVILLE Nov. 22, 2020
Local hockey player Quinn O’Brien hosted his first of several hockey development camps at the Shawville Arena on Nov. 22, making the best out of the cards COVID-19 has dealt to his own hockey career.
O’Brien, a Litchfield native, was all set to begin the next step of his journey in Scotland in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) when the pandemic threw a wrench in the league’s operations for at least a year. Prior to signing the contract to play professionally in Europe, he had . . .
just finished his fourth and final season of playing for the University of Ottawa’s squad – during which he was team captain.
With minor hockey in the Pontiac yet to get underway this year due to COVID restrictions, O’Brien saw that there had been a lack of opportunities for kids to get on the ice.
“I just felt like it was kind of the perfect timing to get the kids that are dying to get on the ice and the parents that are dying to get them out on the ice, and there’s no real solution other than maybe doing a camp,” O’Brien said.
“To actually have a camp … it’s unheard of in November,” he continued. “It’s only because of COVID that it’s actually going to work out pretty good.”
The development camp is being organized into one-hour sessions from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. and is open to all youth hockey players in the novice division and above. There are two more upcoming dates, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6.
While the novelty of holding a private series of camps is there for O’Brien, it’s not entirely a new endeavor, as he took part in hosting camps during his time at the University of Ottawa. The circumstances of COVID-19 provided O’Brien with a chance to continue furthering the skills of the next generation.
“I have always said I’d like to give back and actually try and teach what I can to the youth of the game,” he said.
As for O’Brien’s own career, he is hoping that the EIHL will be able to pick up where it left off in 2021. Despite hockey being on pause for himself, he is pleased that these development camps were able to be organized.
“[I] just kind of used the disadvantage that COVID is giving everyone and turned it into a bit of an advantage,” he said.
Orange zone restrictions require that no more than 25 people be permitted to gather in the arena at one time.
O’Brien was hoping that if red zone restrictions were to be removed for residents living near Quyon, they too would be able to reach out to him and join one of the final two camp dates. However, Premier François Legault announced on Nov. 19 that the already existing restrictions would be extended until Jan. 11.
For any parents who wish to sign their child up for either of the two remaining camps, O’Brien can be reached on his private Facebook account or by email at qobri.hockey@gmail.com.
