Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2024-25 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Twenty-year old QUINN BINNIE was named captain for the 2024-25 edition of the PICKERING PANTHERS upon his return to the OJHL club.
Quinn was a Panther during the 2021-22 season before joining the Mississauga, (now Brampton) Steelheads and Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Binnie was selected in the ninth round of the OHL’s 2020 U16 draft by the Steelheads.
Binnie’s assistants are blueliners Joey Zhang and Darren Wilson, along with forward Kailin Chen.
Zhang, from Markham, put up 29 points last year for Pickering. Wilson, a Petes draftee, is a former Jr. Canadien who joined the club late last season. Chen, born in Beijing and a Niagara IceDogs selection in 2021, played two seasons for the St. Michael’s Buzzers. The captain of China’s under-20 team is in his second season in a Panther uniform.
Quinn is the younger brother of Beau Binnie, who played two seasons for his hometown Stouffville Spirit and was the captain of the CCHL’s Nepean Raiders before playing four seasons at NCAA DIII Trine University in Indiana. Another brother, Mitch, is the AGM of the Panthers. He played junior hockey in Nova Scotia with the Cole Harbour Colts.
Head coach and former NHLer, Rob Pearson, who is in his eighth season as head coach in the OJHL, on his captain: “Quinn has great leadership qualities on and off the ice and I believe with his experience from being a Pickering Panther, going to the OHL and then coming back to be able to groom and help teach the guys the right way is a big plus for us. He has the ability to push the right buttons of the players and to be a good mentor. He is very valuable to us as he can really help the younger kids and we know he will do a fantastic job.”
Quinn is not upset by the slow start of the 3-5-0-0 Panthers: “We have some young players on this club and it is going to take a while for them to get up to the speed of this league but they all have the right attitude and I’m looking forward to working with them on their journeys.”
On wearing the C?
“I have not worn a letter before so this is new for me but I am honored to have three really top-notch assistant captains working alongside me. The three of them are terrific teammates, they never stop grinding and working to make everyone better. Darren works on the powerplay and penalty kill and is getting lots of ice time with us while Kailin and Joey are seasoned vets who know what it takes to win games.”
“Playing for Rob is a pleasure for us all. He can be hard on us when he needs to be but we have all learned so much from his experience. In his role as general manager he is always looking for ways to make the club stronger.”
“I believe that as the season progresses you will see the team become stronger and get its share of wins. We were Buckland Cup champions in 2022 and that club went all the way to the Centennial Cup final against the Brooks Bandits. By that time I was with the Steelheads but now I want to seize the chance to end my junior career on a winning note.”
Quinn’s hockey pedigree will stand him in good stead now as he looks to help return the Panthers to the postseason.
The Panthers visit the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Saturday. They host the Cobourg Cougars two straight nights, Oct. 11 and 12.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
