Wolves Quinton Byfield ready for big year ahead of 2020 NHL draft

Last updated Oct 26, 2022 Edit Source

• News post

• Canadian Press

The Canadian Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League rookie of the year this past season will likely model that bow tie on the Bell Centre stage in the first round of the draft.

• Quinton Byfield

• Cory Stillman

• Trains with Gary Roberts

# Cory Stillman

He’s a good player that’s only going to get better. There’s a high ceiling for Quinton. He has the possibility to play, because of his size, because of his strength, in the NHL at 18.

When he played midget, he had the puck, and if he didn’t have it, he just went and got it. Early in the year, when he didn’t have the puck, he wanted to chase it. In junior hockey, if you’re out of position, someone’s going to make a pass to your guy. Once he realized he should slow down, wait for it, and then attack and go get the puck, he got back into having it more.

Right at the start, if we were down a goal and we pulled the goalie, he went out and played on the back end to run plays off as a 16-year-old. As the season went on, and we got into playoffs, if their goalie was pulled, I had enough confidence that he could play in an odd-man situation to win the hockey game also.

As big as Quinton is, his engine, his motor, his legs, he’s on all the time. For six-foot-five, he skates very well.

# Quinton Byfield

I haven’t been overseas. It would definitely be a special experience. It’s definitely an honour. When I was little, I always watched the world juniors. The under-17 and under-18 teams are stepping stones towards that. I would look up to all those guys.

I started playing hockey when I was three or four. I really fell in love with the game playing house league hockey. When I was younger, on Saturday nights, I’d also go over to my opa and oma, my grandparents’ house, and watch the (Toronto) Maple Leafs play with my opa. That’s where I also fell in love with the game.

[Martin St. Louis] was the smallest guy, but he was still first on the puck and competing everywhere. That’s what I really loved about his game and I try to do that.

It’s a lot about the food you eat as well. Everyone is training. It’s nutrition that really separates you. [Gary Roberts]’s got me on a really good nutrition plan. I’m eating healthy and I think that’s translated to a lot of my success.

I’ve been training my whole life for this. You work your whole life to hopefully one day get drafted to the NHL and make an NHL team. That’s every kid’s dream.