Gage Quinney Bio
Gage Quinney is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Quinney is recognized as the first Nevada-born player in National Hockey League (NHL) history after debuting with his hometown team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Standing 180 centimeters tall and weighing 84 kilograms, he has built a steady professional career through developmental leagues in both North America and overseas.
Early Life and Background
Gage Quinney was born on July 29, 1995, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States. He grew up in a city that was still building its hockey identity, which made his path to the professional ranks relatively uncommon for the region. His father, Ken Quinney, played hockey for the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1993 to 1998, giving young Gage direct exposure to the sport at a competitive level during his formative years in Las Vegas.
Surrounded by the game through his father’s career, Quinney began playing youth hockey and developed his skills in the desert Southwest. His upbringing in a hockey family helped him pursue the sport seriously, even as opportunities for elite development were limited in Las Vegas compared to traditional hockey markets. The combination of family influence and personal drive set the foundation for his move into higher-level junior competition.
Path to Hockey
Quinney’s early competitive hockey began with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes and the Las Vegas Storm of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL), where he displayed offensive potential. In 2011, he was selected 83rd overall by the Tri-City Storm in the United States Hockey League (USHL) Futures Draft, signaling his standing as a promising young talent.
Rather than joining the USHL, Quinney opted to play major junior hockey in Canada, suiting up for the Prince Albert Raiders, Kelowna Rockets, and Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). These stints in the WHL gave him the high-volume, high-tempo environment that helped him mature as a forward and prepared him for the professional ranks.
Gage Quinney Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Quinney began his professional career in the 2016–17 season, signing an ECHL contract with the Wheeling Nailers on October 10, 2016. He produced at nearly a point-per-game pace with the Nailers, which earned him a promotion to start the following 2017–18 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Playing a top-nine role with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Quinney continued his offensive output at the AHL level, recording 14 goals and 33 points in 57 games. His consistent production drew the attention of NHL organizations and set the stage for his entry-level contract.
Vegas Golden Knights 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, his hometown club. After attending the Golden Knights’ 2018 training camp, he was assigned to the AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves for the 2018–19 season. With the Wolves, he earned a top-six forward role and set new career highs with 19 goals, 24 assists, and 43 points in 68 regular-season games, then added 9 points in 18 playoff games as Chicago reached the Calder Cup finals before losing to the Charlotte Checkers.
In the 2019–20 season, Quinney continued his work with the Chicago Wolves and added 32 points in 42 games before receiving his first recall to the NHL. On February 21, 2020, the Golden Knights brought him up to the NHL roster. The following night, February 22, 2020, Quinney made his debut against the Florida Panthers, becoming the first native Nevadan to play in an NHL game. He registered his first NHL point, an assist, in his second game, a 6–5 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks on February 23, 2020.
Henderson Silver Knights and Return to Vegas (2022–2025)
After becoming a free agent at the end of his NHL contract, Quinney chose to remain within the Golden Knights’ organization and signed a one-year AHL contract with the Henderson Silver Knights on July 14, 2022. He continued producing at the AHL level during the 2022–23 season, keeping his offensive game sharp while waiting for another opportunity at the NHL level.
Following the conclusion of his Henderson deal, Quinney rejoined the Vegas Golden Knights on a two-year contract on July 1, 2023. His time within the Golden Knights’ system eventually stretched across seven seasons of professional hockey, from his first ECHL signing to his final NHL deal.
Shanghai Dragons Era (2025–Present)
After seven seasons in the Vegas Golden Knights’ organization, Quinney moved overseas, signing a one-year contract with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League on August 15, 2025. The move marked his first professional chapter outside North America and added an international dimension to a career that had been built primarily in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL.
Quinney made an immediate impact with his new club. On August 29, 2025, he scored the first two goals in the history of the Shanghai Dragons franchise, doing so in the pre-season Mayor of Moscow Cup. The milestone provided an early signature moment in his KHL career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Quinney is recognized as an offensive forward who has consistently produced points at every level of his career, from the ECHL through the AHL and into the NHL. His development in the WHL with multiple Canadian clubs helped him build a reliable two-way game, while his time in top-six roles with the Chicago Wolves showcased his playmaking and finishing ability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Quinney’s most notable milestone came on February 22, 2020, when he became the first native Nevadan to play in an NHL game, debuting for his hometown Vegas Golden Knights against the Florida Panthers. He also made franchise history with the Shanghai Dragons by scoring their first two goals in the pre-season Mayor of Moscow Cup on August 29, 2025.
Gage Quinney Career Wins
Quinney’s career has been built on steady offensive production across multiple leagues rather than a single dominant championship run. His resume includes a Calder Cup finals appearance with the Chicago Wolves, an NHL debut and first point with the Vegas Golden Knights, and a historic first goal for the Shanghai Dragons in the KHL pre-season.
League Highlights
In the AHL, Quinney established career highs of 19 goals and 43 points with the Chicago Wolves in 2018–19 and added 9 points in 18 playoff games during Chicago’s run to the Calder Cup finals. With the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2017–18, he posted 14 goals and 33 points in 57 games, and he produced at nearly a point-per-game clip with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL during the 2016–17 season.
Other Wins and Performances
In the WHL, Quinney suited up for the Prince Albert Raiders, Kelowna Rockets, and Kamloops Blazers, gaining the high-tempo major junior experience that launched his professional career. He also represented the United States in junior development pathways tied to the USHL Futures Draft, where he was selected 83rd overall by the Tri-City Storm in 2011.
Gage Quinney Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Quinney family. Gage’s father, Ken Quinney, played professionally for the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League from 1993 to 1998, giving the family direct roots in the Las Vegas hockey community. Growing up around the Thunder organization helped shape Gage’s early understanding of the game and influenced his path toward competitive youth hockey in the region.
Personal Life
Quinney was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has continued to build his career around his American roots. Public details about his marital status and family life beyond his father are not widely confirmed, and additional personal information has not been officially disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
Quinney’s 2025 season is defined by his transition to the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL following a two-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights that ran from 2023. Signed on August 15, 2025, he quickly delivered a historic moment, scoring the first two goals in franchise history during the pre-season Mayor of Moscow Cup on August 29, 2025.
As the KHL season progresses, Quinney is expected to play an offensive role within the Shanghai Dragons forward group, leaning on the scoring touch that produced 43 points in 68 AHL games in 2018–19 and 32 points in 42 AHL games in 2019–20. His one-year deal keeps his long-term future open while he establishes himself in one of Europe’s top professional leagues.
Looking ahead, Quinney’s 2025–26 campaign represents both a fresh start in a new country and a continuation of the steady, point-producing style that has defined his professional career since 2016. If he maintains his offensive pace in the KHL, he could position himself for a longer-term commitment in Shanghai or open doors to additional opportunities in top European leagues.