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Quintin Laing

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Quintin Laing
Born (1979-06-08) June 8, 1979 (age 45)
Harris, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
GET-ligaen team
Former teams
Sparta Warriors
Washington Capitals
Chicago Blackhawks
Abbotsford Heat
NHL draft 102nd overall, 1997
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2000–2014

Quintin Laing (born June 8, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who last played in the GET-ligaen. His father, Bill Laing is also a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the World Hockey Association (WHA).

Career

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Originally a draft choice of the Detroit Red Wings, Laing made his NHL debut for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2003-2004 season, but only skated in three games. Laing has spent a great deal of time playing minor league hockey, most recently with the Hershey Bears, but has stood out to his team and fans alike as a player with great work ethic and commitment to the game. In the early 2010 season he was signed by the Abbotsford Heat, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

Washington Capitals

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During the 2007-2008 season, Laing was called up to replace the injured Boyd Gordon because of his penalty killing abilities. On his way to the airport, Laing made a promise to himself: play each shift as if it were his last.[1] Laing made an immediate impact on the team, and his outstanding effort was rewarded as he remained on the team after Gordon returned from his injury.

Laing scored his first NHL goal, a game winner, on December 10, 2007, against Kevin Weekes of the New Jersey Devils, however he was most well known for his shot blocking skills, and led the NHL in blocked shots per game for a large portion of the season. Opponents scored fewer goals and took fewer shots per sixty minutes of ice time when Laing was on the ice than any other Capital.[2] Laing is the Masterton Trophy nominee from the Capitals for the 2007-2008 season, which is awarded to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.[3]

His teammates have offered glowing reviews of his dedication to the game: "He's a heart-and-soul guy," Capitals winger Brooks Laich said of Laing. "He lays his body out there, relentlessly and religiously in front of pucks. He does the little things that help you win." Goalie Brent Johnson added: "He's an old-time hockey player. People want to see scoring, but as a goaltender you appreciate guys like him. He went down and blocked a shot with his chest. I went up to him afterward, and said, 'Seriously, you keep that up and you're going to be here.'"[1]

On October 6, 2008, Laing was put on waivers and sent to the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals AHL affiliate, as the Capitals were simply too deep at forward. Capitals coach, Bruce Boudreau said that it was one of toughest cuts he had ever had to make because, "Quintin was so proud to be a Washington Capital."[4]

Laing was injured while playing with the Bears during the 2008-2009 season. After recovering, he was almost immediately called up to the Capitals due to multiple injuries in Washington's forward corps. His first NHL game of the year, against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 19, 2009, resulted in an assist and a blocked shot in 10 minutes of ice time. However, after the game he began complaining of abdominal pain and the Capitals' trainer realized that he had a serious injury. He was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that he had torn his spleen. He was placed in intensive care and immediately ruled out for the remainder of the season.[5] However, Laing returned for Hershey in game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference finals.[6]

Laing was the third NHL player to be diagnosed with swine flu within the same week. Capitals spokesman Nate Ewell reported that Laing was being treated for H1N1 while being kept well away from his fellow Capitals players. Laing sat out the next few games until he was well enough to return on Sunday, November 1. Laing scored his first goal of the season the night of his return.

In a November 17, 2009 tilt against the New York Rangers at [MSG], Laing, while sprawling on the ice to block a passing lane, suffered a broken jaw after a slapshot caught his face. He was placed on the long-term IR the next day and was expected to miss upwards of 6–8 weeks.

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1996–97 Kelowna Rockets WHL 63 13 24 37 54 1 0 0 0 0
1997–98 Kelowna Rockets WHL 59 11 24 35 47 7 0 1 1 8
1998–99 Kelowna Rockets WHL 70 11 10 21 107 6 3 0 3 0
1999–00 Kelowna Rockets WHL 68 22 30 52 61 5 1 1 2 8
2000–01 Jackson Bandits ECHL 60 13 24 37 39 5 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Norfolk Admirals AHL 10 0 1 1 10
2001–02 Jackson Bandits ECHL 60 13 24 37 39 5 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Norfolk Admirals AHL 61 6 15 21 32 4 0 0 0 2
2002–03 Norfolk Admirals AHL 69 5 12 17 33 8 2 2 4 0
2003–04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 3 0 1 1 0
2003–04 Norfolk Admirals AHL 78 12 10 22 74 8 5 1 6 4
2004–05 Norfolk Admirals AHL 66 10 13 23 54 4 0 0 0 0
2005–06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 73 14 31 45 70 4 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Hershey Bears AHL 75 15 28 43 44 19 2 5 7 21
2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 39 1 5 6 10
2007–08 Hershey Bears AHL 20 2 6 8 28
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Hershey Bears AHL 55 9 16 25 21 9 2 2 4 0
2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Washington Capitals NHL 36 2 2 4 21
2009–10 Hershey Bears AHL 2 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Victoria Salmon Kings ECHL 4 0 1 1 0
2010–11 Abbotsford Heat AHL 59 7 19 26 40
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 58 11 11 22 31 1 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Abbotsford Heat AHL 63 6 10 16 45
2013–14 Sparta Warriors Norway 28 2 12 14 4 5 1 2 3 2
NHL totals 79 3 8 11 31

References

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  1. ^ a b El-Bashir, Tarik (December 5, 2007). "Laing's Second Chance Gets Off to a Good Start". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ "Japers' Rink: 2007-08 Rink Wrap: Quintin Laing". May 19, 2008.
  3. ^ "Washington Capitals - Features: Laing is Caps' Masterton Nominee - 03/13/2008". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
  4. ^ "Capitals Insider - Boudreau Talks About the Cuts". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011.
  5. ^ "Capitals Insider - The Latest on Laing". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012.
  6. ^ Leone, Tim (May 23, 2009). "Laing's return gives Bears a lift". pennlive.com.
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