Leading The Swarm

CIS Top Goal-Scorer Olivier Hinse has Stingers on Pace to End Playoff Drought  

SportsDavid S. Landsman — Published November 25, 2013 | Updated November 26, 2013 at 1:35am

If you’ve stuck around post-game, you’ve probably seen him walking the halls around Ed Meagher Arena flanked by family and friends.

For someone who spends so much time around the ice, it’s hard to believe that hockey wasn’t Hinse’s first love.

“I started playing hockey when I was about seven years old, a late bloomer,” said Hinse.

“Before then I did speed skating but I couldn’t stop crying because I wanted to join my friends [and play hockey]. Finally my parents let me.”

Hinse is a sophomore centre for the Stingers, but he plays more like a fifth-year veteran—leading the team in goals (13) and points (19) in just 12 games.

His goal tally leads the entire Canadian Interuniversity Sport through nearly three months of play—a vast improvement from his total last year, when he finished with just two goals and 10 points in 28 games.

“I definitely feel a lot more confident on the ice [this year] and am taking more shots,” said Hinse.

“I can’t take all the credit; having great wingers each game really helps.”

Nonetheless, it’s quite the achievement for a 22-year-old from Sherbrooke who joined the Stingers last year after bouncing around the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for four years.

“I was very fortunate to have played in such great hockey cities in junior,” said Hinse.

“Getting to meet a lot of great individuals and staying with such great people made me appreciate that much more my journey in the QMJHL.”

Hinse’s line with the Stingers consists of him and wingers Jessyco Bernard and Dany Potvin. They’re known as “The Green Line” because at practices they all wear green jerseys. Whenever they’re all on the ice they can always find each other in the play.

“The Green Line became a thing since coach [Kevin Figsby] put Berny, Potsy and I together last year,” said Hinse. “The three of us have tremendous chemistry ‘cause we like playing together. We’re three big guys who like to make plays and hit hard.”

Led by Hinse’s goals, the Stingers currently sit in seventh place in the Ontario University Athletics East Division with a 3-6-3 record.

If the Stingers maintain the spot until the end of the season, they’ll be heading to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-2011 season.

“I think the maturity of the players shows in the CIS and on our team,” said Hinse.

“We’re really working hard together towards a common goal.

“I worked really hard this summer and am very pleased with my personal play, but definitely the team’s performance is always number one,” he continued.

Hinse’s success at Concordia comes from more than just one summer’s worth of training, however.

After finishing second in scoring in his Midget AAA league at 16 years old, Hinse was drafted into the QMJHL by the Victoriaville Tigres back in 2008. He played for four different junior teams in the province, including the Quebec City Remparts and most recently the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, who he helped lead to the playoffs in the 2011-2012 season.

His most memorable playoff run, however, took place two years prior.

“I was in the playoffs my first year with [the Remparts], and the first two games at home were against the Acadie-Bathurst Titans and they each went to overtime,” said Hinse.

“In each of the games I was able to score the game-winners in front of my home crowd. The energy and feel of those games are moments I’ll remember for the rest of my days.”

But perhaps what Hinse will remember most of his junior career isn’t the goals scored or victories tallied, but rather the coaching received.

As a Rempart, Hinse got to play under a Quebec City native that Montrealers know all too well—former Habs goaltender and current Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy.

“Being coached by Roy was an incredible experience,” said Hinse.

“A man as passionate as him with his players and having such a hockey mindset was unbelievable. I loved my experience playing under him.”

Not to be outdone, Hinse has nothing but the highest of respect for his current coach, Kevin Figsby, who named Hinse alternate captain in his rookie campaign.

“I really like playing for Kevin, he’s a coach that’ll do everything for his team to be their best,” said Hinse. “He’s also very close with his players, and we get along great. The confidence he gives me pushes me harder and harder.”

Not yet halfway through his second season at Concordia, Hinse likely has a lot of hockey left to play before hanging up his skates. But when all is said and done, Hinse, majoring in child studies, says he hopes to one day work with children.

“I chose to go into child studies because I really like working with youngsters,” he said.

“I like teaching them new things, it’s why I worked at hockey camps. Maybe by the time I finish my bachelor’s degree, people can call me Professor Hinse.”