Former Wolverine defenseman Kevin Quick, who was dismissed from the Michigan hockey team Feb. 1, stole a credit card and used it to spend thousands of dollars, The Buffalo News reported.
- Patti Behler
- Freshman defenseman Kevin Quick was dismissed from the team on Feb. 1 for an undisclosed violation of team rules. According to a report in The Buffalo News, he stole a credit card and charged thousands of dollars to it. (Chanel von Habsburg-Lothringen/Dai
The incident erupted just before the Wolverines’ series against Northern Michigan, and Michigan coach Red Berenson called the situation “a total violation of our team trust and rules.”
Quick told the Newport News Daily Press “he expects to soon return to Michigan to deal with legal consequences.” The former freshman hasn’t responded to multiple messages left by The Michigan Daily.
On Sunday, Quick signed an amateur tryout contract with the Norfolk Admirals, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate. Tampa Bay, which conducted its own internal investigation into the matter, drafted Quick two years ago in the third round. At 19, Quick would be the youngest Admiral by more than a year.
The contract allows the organization to further evaluate Quick, who will become the Admirals’ eighth defenseman, before he is eligible to sign an entry-level contract March 1.
Despite the circumstances, the Lightning hope giving Quick a second chance and a new environment will help him turn things around.
“We’ve got a player here that we’re not willing to just throw out the door and say, ‘You’re on your own now, you’ve made a mistake,’ ” said Claude Loiselle, the Lightning’s assistant general manager. “We’re an organization that’s going to help a kid out.
“Kevin made a mistake, and he’s going to have to face the music. I don’t see any other way of doing it. For him to stay home the rest of the year is crazy.”
Loiselle also emphasized the “resources” and “stable environment” the team will provide for Quick. In addition to the support of coaching staff and living with an Admiral teammate, Loiselle said the team has “people that are coming in that are helping out,” but would not elaborate.
While donning the maize and blue, the Buffalo, N.Y., native tallied two goals and two assists in 21 games while playing mainly alongside junior alternate captain Mark Mitera on the first defensive pairing.
Rankings and awards: Taking three of four points at Miami (Ohio) was convincing enough for voters to put Michigan back in the top spot of the national rankings. So convincing that the Wolverines received all but three first-place votes between the USCHO.com and USA Today polls.
No. 4 New Hampshire took those votes, while the RedHawks predictably dropped to the nation’s second spot.
But the voters recognized more than Michigan’s great weekend.
Senior Chad Kolarik’s goal and three assists earned him CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors, while linemate Max Pacioretty (three goals and an assist) received Rookie of the Week recognition.