Former Arizona Coyotes hockey player Deron Quint has traded his ice skates for a police badge, reported AZ Family.
Quint spent 22 years playing defense for hockey teams around the world, and last year, he became a Phoenix police officer.
Quint stated, "I was so excited and really just like a young kid again, like I was starting a new career, like playing hockey for the first time again."
Quint played for teams in Chicago and Columbus, but fell in love with Arizona when he played for the Coyotes.
He said, "The first year the team got here '96 to 2000, and then I came back in 2003, I believe, it was for a year."
Quint told AZ Family that he dreamed of wearing a police badge long before he ever wore the skates.
"I think when I was young, it was the uniform, the badge, the respect of the police officers, the command presence they have," he said.
Quint credits his time as a hockey player to his ability to connect with the community.
Quint said, "A lot of times they'll look at the name plate, and, 'oh there's a guy that used to play for the Coyotes with that last name. I think it's surprised a lot of people, but people are always excited just to hear about it. They'll tell stories about games they watched or the teams of the old games."
Quint plans to be an officer for a long time.
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