The NHL preseason is underway and Weyburn-born Quinn Mantei got to be part of the early action. 

Mantei, who is currently left defenseman for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, was invited to skate in the Calgary Flames development camp in July. 

“I think it was just last year I had a I had a pretty good second-half and finish to the season, and we played a little better as a team. So we got a little bit of recognition, and I was talking to my agent after the draft and Calgary was one of the teams interested in having me come to their development camp in the summer. So in July, I went to development camp there, which is just all rookies,” Mantei noted. “That all went well, and they invited me back for the rookie tournament in Penticton this fall.  I went about two weeks ago now and I flew into Calgary, and we had a practice and some testing and whatnot, and then we flew right to Penticton. And I got to get into a few games there for that rookie showcase and then they kept me there for the main camp with all the all the Pro guys for about a week. So it was pretty cool to be a part of all that.” 

18-year-old Mantei, who grew up skating and playing hockey in Weyburn, said it was a great experience. 

“It was pretty crazy. It's cool being able to be out there with those guys that you watch on TV and you see what they do on an everyday basis. Just to be on the ice with those guys and being able to skate with them, kind of see how they go about their ways and take care of themselves and how they work on the ice it was a bit of an eye opener and pretty cool to see and kind of shows me what I need to do to try to make that next level. So, it was it was a really good experience to be able to be around all those guys, especially the ones who have been doing it for a long time and some of the best players in the league play there, so it was pretty cool to share the ice with those guys.” 

He noted that while many took training camp itself quite seriously, the rookies at camp did get a chance to interact with the pros in their downtime.  

“When we do have a little bit of time off or we're hanging out in the gym or the dressing room or whatever it was, it was kind of nice. They chat a little bit with us and it's cool that they show interest, and they want to know where you're from, how old you are, where you grew up and they want to get to know you a little bit. it. So it was, it was pretty cool to be able to even interact a little bit with all those guys and they were all really good to all the young guys and welcoming and supportive. So it was it was pretty cool to see.” 

He did note that there were a few moments that really stuck out to him.  

“The one was probably watching the first preseason game that they had where we got to sit up in the suite and watching the watching Huberdeau and Kadri. They had a big game against Vancouver and they both scored some really nice goals, so I think that was pretty cool to see. And then the day before I came home, I was practicing and Kadri was out there and Jacob Markstrom and Elias Lindholm and all these guys and just the pace of the play and getting to skate with them, that was pretty crazy, I thought.” 

Although Mantei was released from training camp after the first week, he did get to play two games in the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, one of which also featured another Weyburnite, Alex Clarke, as referee.  

“It was funny, I saw she was out there with one of the different games and I knew that she was from Weyburn, actually, and then the next day when I was out there with her I had a little chat with her. I asked her and just clarified if she was from Weyburn and she said yeah she was. I said that was awesome because they said I was too. And she said yeah, I know. It was just short and quick because she was out there doing her job. But yeah, it was pretty cool to be out there with her too.” 

During the tournament, Mantei ended up playing in two games, walking away with a number of assists and a lot of experience.  

“Calgary’s got lots of good, really good, young players that we got to be out there with. So they made it easier on me for sure and helped me out a lot out there. But it was pretty cool to be there and wear that uniform and stuff. It was awesome.” 

Mantei is currently back with the Brandon Wheat Kings and looking forward to their season together.  

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