Inside Noah Quinn’s commitment to Bemidji State University

Cranbrook Bucks 2003-born forward Noah Quinn has enjoyed a strong start to the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season. He’s spent most of his time this season playing on a line with Burnaby Winter Club graduates Tyson Dyck and Luke Pfoh, forming the Bucks’ most productive trio. The three of them have been the three leading scorers for Cranbrook all season long.

Quinn himself has tallied seven goals and eight assists for 15 points through his first 13 games of the current campaign. Those totals ranked him third on the team in both goals and assists, and second in points. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that has produced at such a rate, however.

Before suffering a season-ending injury prior to the Bucks’ fifth game of last season, Quinn scored a goal and added three assists in the first four contests of 2020-21. Add it all up and he has registered eight goals, 11 assists, and 19 points in his first 17 career BCHL games.

Despite missing Cranbrook’s final 16 games last season, Quinn ranks in the top three of all offensive categories in the franchise’s short history — including goals, assists, points, and points-per-game.

All that being said, it’s more than just numbers that stand out when watching Quinn play. He contributes in all situations, takes face-offs, and is responsible. He doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey like the older players tagged as captains do — but Quinn has been a leader on the ice.

Playing as complete a game as Quinn does and producing at such a high level, it was certainly only a matter of time before scouts took notice — and they have. Quinn recently took to Twitter to announce his commitment to play National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I hockey at Bemidji State University.

Bemidji was a no-brainer

Shortly after he publicly revealed his commitment to Bemidji State University, Quinn admitted it happened quite quickly and the school was a great fit right from the start.

“I chatted with them after a game and then it took off on the right foot from there. I decided within a week and it was certainly a no-brainer for me,” Quinn said.

He speaks very highly of not only the school itself but also its location. In fact, he compares the location to his hometown of Nelson, BC.

“I thought Bemidji would be the best fit because it is a first-class organization, and the way they treat their players is top-notch. Not to mention — the town is beautiful, and it’s located right on Lake Bemidji. It reminds me a lot of home, actually, so I thought that was super cool.”

Quinn adds that the way the hockey team is backed by both the school and the community was positive. 

“Seeing how the school and the town support their hockey program was just one of many pieces that made my decision easy, and (I knew) that it was the right fit.”

As a fun fact relative to his commitment, Quinn points out that he isn’t the first Nelson native to choose Bemidji State University. Also hailing from the small town in the mountains of BC is Reece Hunt, who has spent the past three seasons with Bemidji’s Women’s team.

She is the younger sister of Dryden Hunt — who played briefly in the BCHL as an affiliate with the Trail Smoke Eaters and now suits up for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League.

Back to business with the Bucks

Now that Quinn has his NCAA Div. I plans out of the way, he can continue focusing on the task at hand. In his first game after announcing his commitment, Quinn scored a big third period game-tying goal against Cranbrook’s arch rival from Trail.

His tenure at Bemidji State isn’t scheduled to begin until September 2023, so Quinn has the reminder of this season and all of next to finish what he started in Cranbrook.

Quinn is just the second player in Bucks history to earn a college commitment while playing in Cranbrook — and the first to an NCAA Div. I school. The other player to earn a post-junior career as a Buck was 2000-born forward Reece Henry, who committed to Minot State University of the American Collegiate Hockey Association last summer.

Quinn and Henry join a long list of players to come to Cranbrook with a college commitment already in their back pocket. In fact, eight current and former Bucks arrived in the Key City already knowing when and where their college careers would begin, including:

With Quinn committed to Bemidji State, he becomes the 10th player to suit up for the Bucks en route to playing college hockey. He is likely the first of many dominos to fall, as many other eligible players remain hungry for a chance at a commitment.

In fact, the way Quinn and the rest of his Bucks teammates have played this season — he certainly won’t be the last.