Catching Up With… Quinton Howden
Moose Jaw Warriors fans saw what Quinton Howden was capable of during his four-year WHL career with the club and now NHL teams are getting a taste of the speedy forward.
The Oakbank, Manitoba product graduated to the professional ranks after leading the tribe to the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Howden played in 244 games in Moose Jaw, he finished with 111 goals and his 239 points has him tied for seventh on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
His professional career started in the American Hockey League with the San Antonio Rampage, who is the minor league affiliate of the Florida Panthers who drafted him 25th overall in 2010. He played 57 games with the Rampage, scoring 13 goals and picked up 30 points, which still has him third in team scoring despite not playing a game with the Rampage since March 17th.
A rash of injuries for the Florida Panthers during the short NHL season led to Howden getting called up and while things haven’t went as smoothly as he would have hoped, the 21-year-old is enjoying the experience.
“There’s a lot to learn,” he said following Thursday’s game in Winnipeg. “The guys here have been good helping me out so far. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m gaining experience every game.”
Howden has yet to register a point in the NHL, but has been getting steady ice time on the fourth line and has gotten a shot every game in April, but is still waiting for that first to go in. The lack of offence isn’t wearing on Howden though.
“Obviously you want it, but I don’t really care right now,” said Howden. “I’m here trying to contribute in a way to help the team out and get some wins.”
Last Thursday he experienced a childhood dream of playing an NHL game in his hometown. Oakbank is just minutes outside of Winnipeg, and with the Panthers in town to play the Jets, it was his first chance to play a professional game in front of family and friend.
Now the game didn’t go the way Howden would have liked, the Jets rolled over the Panthers 7-2, but for Quinton the score didn’t ruin the moment. “It was cool,” he said in the locker room after the game. “You always want to play at home in front of family and friends, but when the outcome of the game is like that – it’s not really what you want.”
The Panthers have a handful of games remaining in the regular season and sit last in the Eastern Conference with 32 points. Even though the post-season may be a long shot, Howden says he’s remaining positive and using this opportunity to show the Panthers coaching staff that he deserves to stay with the big club next year.
