Gage Quinney Bio
Gage Quinney is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Quinney is notable as the first Nevada-born player in National Hockey League (NHL) history, making his debut with his hometown team, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Early Life and Background
Gage Quinney was born on July 29, 1995, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He grew up in a hockey family: his father, Ken Quinney, played professionally with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League from 1993 to 1998, giving Gage early exposure to organized hockey and the local hockey community.
Quinney developed as a youth in the southwestern United States, skating with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes and competing in his hometown with the Las Vegas Storm of the T1EHL. As a teenager he drew attention in junior evaluation events and was selected 83rd overall in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft by the Tri-City Storm before electing to pursue major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League.
Path to Hockey
Quinney moved to major junior hockey in Canada, playing for the Prince Albert Raiders, Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League. The move to the WHL provided a higher level of competition and accelerated his development as a left wing with offensive instincts and the ability to play in various forward roles.
Undrafted into the NHL, Quinney launched his professional career in the 2016–17 season by signing an ECHL contract with the Wheeling Nailers. His offensive production at the ECHL level and subsequent play in the American Hockey League opened the door to AHL opportunities and eventual NHL consideration.
Gage Quinney Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Quinney began his professional career in 2016 with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, where he produced at a point-per-game pace and demonstrated scoring touch and playmaking ability. His play earned an opportunity at the AHL level the following season.
In 2017–18 Quinney skated with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL, contributing 14 goals and 33 points in 57 games while playing a top-nine forward role. Those performances established him as a reliable secondary scorer and helped him gain further professional traction within NHL organizations.
AHL and NHL Breakthrough (2018–2020)
On June 2, 2018, Quinney signed his first NHL contract, agreeing to a two-year, entry-level deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. After attending Golden Knights training camp, he was assigned to the AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves for the 2018–19 season, where he earned a top-six role and set new professional highs.
Quinney established career highs with the Chicago Wolves in 2018–19, recording 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 68 regular-season games. He added nine points in 18 postseason games, helping the Wolves advance to the Calder Cup finals, a deep playoff run that marked a key milestone in his career.
NHL Debut and Hometown Milestone (2019–2020)
During the 2019–20 season Quinney continued with the Chicago Wolves and produced 32 points in 42 games before receiving a recall to the NHL. He was recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights on February 21, 2020, and made his NHL debut the following night against the Florida Panthers on February 22, 2020.
Quinney registered his first NHL point in his second game with the Golden Knights on February 23, 2020, earning an assist in a 6-5 overtime victory against the Anaheim Ducks. His appearance marked the first time a native Nevadan skated in an NHL game, a notable moment for both the player and his home state.
Vegas Organization and Henderson (2020–2025)
After his initial NHL appearances Quinney remained within the Golden Knights organization, continuing to play in the AHL and contributing as a dependable forward option. He later signed a one-year AHL contract with the Henderson Silver Knights on July 14, 2022, remaining part of the Golden Knights development pipeline while providing veteran depth at the AHL level.
Quinney re-joined the Vegas Golden Knights on a two-year contract on July 1, 2023. Following seven seasons within the Golden Knights organization, he elected to take his career overseas in 2025.
Shanghai Dragons Era (2025–Present)
On August 15, 2025, Quinney signed a one-year contract with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League. The move represented his first professional season outside North America and a new chapter in his career in one of the world’s top international leagues.
Early with Shanghai, Quinney made an immediate impact in club history by scoring the first two goals in franchise history during a pre-season appearance in the Mayor of Moscow Cup on August 29, 2025. Those goals served as early indicators of his role as an experienced offensive option for the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quinney plays left wing and shoots left. Across junior and professional stops he has been recognized for offensive instincts, dependable secondary scoring and the ability to adapt to different forward roles. His track record in the ECHL and AHL shows the capacity to provide consistent point production when given regular minutes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Quinney’s most widely noted milestone is his NHL debut for the Vegas Golden Knights on February 22, 2020, which made him the first native Nevadan to play in an NHL game. Other career highlights include his contributions to the Chicago Wolves’ run to the Calder Cup finals in 2019 and his pair of goals in the Shanghai Dragons’ preseason history on August 29, 2025.
Gage Quinney Career Wins
Quinney’s professional career is defined by milestone moments rather than cumulative trophies: an undrafted player who worked through junior ranks, the ECHL and the AHL to reach the NHL, make a historic state-first appearance, and later accept an international assignment in the KHL. His career features playoff contributions, professional scoring marks at the AHL level and NHL game experience.
AHL Highlights
In the AHL Quinney produced notable seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Chicago Wolves. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton he recorded 14 goals and 33 points in 57 games in 2017–18. With the Chicago Wolves in 2018–19 he established new career highs with 19 goals and 43 points in 68 regular-season games and added nine points in 18 postseason games during a run to the Calder Cup finals.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Quinney’s early professional success included point-per-game production in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, which helped him earn opportunities at the AHL level. He has consistently filled roles where he can contribute secondary scoring and veteran presence, both in North America and as he transitions to the KHL.
Gage Quinney Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Gage Quinney’s hockey roots trace directly to his father, Ken Quinney, who played for the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League from 1993 to 1998. That family connection to professional hockey provided a tangible model and local legacy for Quinney as he developed as a player in Las Vegas and beyond.
Personal Life
Quinney was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Public records and available profiles identify his birthplace and his status as the first Nevada-born NHL player; other personal details such as marital status and residence are not publicly documented in the provided sources.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Quinney signed a one-year contract to join the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL, marking his first season outside the Golden Knights organization and his first campaign in a major European-based league. He scored two goals for Shanghai in a preseason appearance at the Mayor of Moscow Cup on August 29, 2025, giving the club an early scoring landmark.
Quinney’s move to the KHL brings a North American forward with AHL scoring experience and NHL game experience to Shanghai. His role in 2025 is oriented toward providing veteran forward depth and offensive contributions as the Dragons integrate into KHL competition, with the contract noted as a one-year deal covering the 2025–2026 season.