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| Peter Quenneville practiced with the Wheat Kings for the first time on Wednesday |
Quenneville practiced with the team for the first time on Wednesday after making the decision to leave Quinnipiac University and come to the Western Hockey League earlier this week.
"I wasn't happy with just playing the game, playing the game I love, and when you're not smiling and not having fun, you're not getting better and you're not confident," said Quenneville after his first practice with the Wheat Kings on Wednesday, "I felt that a move to play here in Brandon and be back in Canada and get the opportunity to play with my brother will help me gain that confidence and bring the best out of me moving forward."
Quenneville, the older brother of second year Wheat Kings' centre John Quenneville, was originally a fourth round pick of Prince George in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft and Brandon had to first send a third round pick in the 2015 Draft to the Cougars to acquire his rights.
"I didn't really consider anywhere else. First and foremost, the opportunity to play with John, I never really dreamed of being able to have it," said Quenneville, "With Prince George having my rights as long as they did, it was never really an option. Until recently, I found out that there was a trade that could have been made, I was really excited about that opportunity and felt it was best of me and my future."
Peter practiced Wednesday on a line with centre Chad Robinson and import Rihards Bukarts while John Quenneville was with Jayce Hawryluk and Richard Nejezchleb.
Peter and John played briefly together (11 games) with the AJHL's Sherwood Park Crusaders late in the 2011-2012 season but playing as teammates long-term will take some getting used to.
"The biggest thing is figuring out how to push each other but not be too in each other's face," said Quenneville, "Finding that line where Johnny pushing me and I'm pushing him and we're being positive but also, if we're getting on each other about little things here and there, that we're making sure it constructive...at the end of the day, we both love the game and we're best friends so I couldn't be more excited to be his teammate."
"He's my brother, he's my best friend and now he's my teammate. I don't really have words to describe what it's like, it's an amazing feeling," added John Quenneville, "I always want to do great and I always want him to do great and I think, together, we can be better than we ever were apart."
Peter Quenneville hadn't played with Quinnipiac since October 22 because of a lower body injury, but said he felt fine in practice Wednesday.
When the Quenneville's step on the ice Thursday night, it'll mark the first time brothers have been in the Wheat Kings' lineup together for a regular season game since Mark and James Ardelan in the fall of 2000.
Chaff...G Curtis Honey (upper body) was absent from practice Wednesday and is expected to miss his third straight game Thursday...D Rene Hunter and D Kord Pankewicz both practiced fully Wednesday and should be available Thursday. Hunter has missed three games with an upper body injury, Pankewicz the last two...F Richard Nejezchleb was named the Wheat Kings' Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries IMPACT Player of the Month for September / October on Wednesday.
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