Today, the AHL announced the opening month’s awards. Along with the Player of the Month and Goaltender of the Month, Jack Quinn was named Rookie of the Month. This award comes after Quinn contributed five goals and five assists in six games to start his 2021-22 campaign.
In the 15 games Quinn played last season, he only amassed two goals and seven assists, albeit he was injured during part, if not all of last season. Quinn is currently tied for 3rd in the AHL in points and tied for 3rd in goals (both 1st and 2nd place in goals have at least one more game played).
The outburst of offensive production is part of a line including fellow 2020 draftee JJ Peterka and longtime Amerk Sean Malone. Peterka has one goal and six assists in those six games while Malone has one goal and four assists.
Not only is the point production impressive to begin the season, but the fashion Quinn is scoring these goals is leaving fans impressed. It is not as if his ability to score goals came out of nowhere, it is exactly what he was drafted for. That said, seeing this production as a 20-year-old is a cause for optimism after a challenging season on and off the ice due to the pandemic.
It is a small sample size, but it is also the best case scenario for starting off a season. He’s playing with a linemate that he’ll likely be linked to for years to come with JJ Peterka. Developing that chemistry on top of producing is a win-win for everyone involved, now it is about keeping as close to this pace as possible and Quinn could be in the running for Rookie of the Year.
The last Amerk to earn Rookie of the Month was Alexander Salak in October 2009, but that was when the Amerks were affiliated with Florida. Players that played for the Portland Pirates (Sabres affiliate from fall 2007 to spring 2011) to win this award: Tim Kennedy (February 2009) and Tyler Ennis (February 2010).
Other recipients of the Rookie of the Month award with Rochester include: Curtis Brown (March 1997), Vaclav Varada (April 1997), Jeremy Adduono (March 2000), Ryan Miller (December 2002), Derek Roy (October 2003), Thomas Vanek (April 2005), and Drew Stafford (January 2007).
A few highlights of Quinn’s season so far:
