Phoenix Shared Before The Badge: Deron Quint, Professional Hockey Player

Phoenix AZ

10 February, 2021

3:00 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Phoenix: February 8, 2021 You might recognize the name Deron Quint. He played professional hockey for 22 years — a defenseman for a number of teams from the Winnipeg Jets, to the Columbus Blue Jackets, to our very own Arizona Coyotes. He also played abroad in Italy, Germany, and Russia. But his love for the game started way back in childhood. "My father was a coach for the local high school team and he had me on skates at two years old," Quint said. Quint grew up in Durham, New Hampshire where he was skating pretty much as soon as he was walking. In his early teens, he was playing with the college team in town. And by 18, he made his rookie debut with the Jets. It was that first year that he tied the NHL record for fastest two-goal span by one player, scoring twice in four seconds. "I would say 99% luck on that one," Quint laughed. "On the second one for sure. But it's just being in the right place at the right time." Sure, we can call that luck, but as the saying goes, luck favors the prepared. And Quint has always come prepared. That was true in hockey. And now, that's true in the blue. "It's something I've always wanted to do," Quint said of police work. "When the team came to Phoenix, you're assigned a security detail for the team, and his name was Jim O'Neil. He was an officer at the Phoenix Police Department at the time." Quint said he always knew that if his body held up through hockey, he wanted to become a cop in retirement. So, when he packed up his skates for the last time, he made his way to the Phoenix Police Academy, and started on the force in January of 2020. For Quint, the uniform may have changed, but the game remains the same. "As a defenseman, I always counted," Quint explained. "I always knew how many players were in front of me. How many players were behind me. It's just something you do. And it's the same thing when you're out on the streets. Gotta be aware of your surroundings. What's around you." He says trash-talking fans taught him focus, rowdy opponents taught him patience, and being part of a team taught him accountability. He has brought all these skill with him to the streets of Phoenix. "I demand and expect a lot out of my squadmates because I believe we have a duty to be the best we can be every day," Quint said. "And there's some days you don't feel good but you still gotta be your best. You gotta put all of that aside. And when you put the uniform on, it's time to help people." This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author's own.