Play in the Mac's Tournament for the first time? Check. Record a career-high in points in the SMAAAHL with seven games still to go? Check.

Two impressive boxes have already been ticked off on Home Hardware Midget AAA Legionnaires forward Quinn Strang's individual resume in his first season with Swift Current. A third, and the biggest so far, was officially checked off January 31.

Strang signed a Letter of Intent to play at the Junior A level with the AJHL's Grande Prairie Storm in the 2020-21 campaign.  

"It's really cool and it's a relief - it takes a lot of pressure off me, I know where I'm going next year now," said the 2002-born Strang, in his final season of minor hockey. "The AJHL is a league that I really wanted to play in next year, so it just feels good to get a spot there."

The Saskatoon product said it's a program that had plenty of appeal to him, not just due to a guaranteed roster spot upon graduation.

"I've just heard a lot of good things about their organization," he said. "I heard they got a good coach, good management - they treat their players well. It's just a league with a lot of exposure to colleges, so I'm just really happy that I'm going there next year."

Strang came to the Legionnaires after a rookie campaign with the Battlefords Stars that saw seven goals and 18 points in 44 games. This year, while also serving as an alternate captain, he has 10 goals and 26 points, playing in 36 of 37 contests for Swift Current.

Strang noted those first two milestones listed in the opening have had a hand in pushing him to the next level.

"I think it helped a lot. I'm getting a lot of exposure here in Swift Current. I'm playing a good role on the team, which helps scouts get a good look at me. Also, we were able to go to the Mac's Tournament where they got to watch me play for a few games, so that really helped as well," he said.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound centreman will be joining a Storm team that's been middle of the pack in the AJHL's North Division the past three years. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Grande Prairie is a combined 76-79-13-12 regular-season record, with a 4-7-2-1 mark in the previous two post-seasons.

That includes an 18-24-6-2 record this season, as the Storm currently sit in sixth place in the North. They haven't finished higher than fourth place in their division since the 2012-13 season, and Strang says he hopes to be a part of the roster that gets them back to a deep playoff run.

"They're really young right now, so I think going forward it's only going to get better. They have a lot of '01s and going to be lots of '02s there too, so I think it's just going to be better every year," said Strang, adding that he hopes his game and current leadership role can equate to success with the Storm from Day 1.

"I think I'm a big guy, but I skate well, I play a complete 200-foot game, and I can put the puck in the net. (The 'A') shows them that I have good character. Teams look for guys that going to be good in the locker room and stuff."

Work still remains at the Midget AAA level though, with the Legionnaires positioned in eighth-place (18-15-1-3), with a clinched playoff spot within reach. Strang and the Legionnaires sit 11 points up on the Battlefords Stars. One Stars' loss and one win for Swift Current would end Battlefords' playoff hopes.

"Playoffs are the focus right now. I feel pretty confident about our chances going forward if we play our game," Strang said. "I think we can make some noise in the playoffs. The position doesn't matter for us - where we are in the standings - I think once you get in the playoffs, anyone can win. I think I'm really excited about this playoff push that we're coming up on here."

Before that though, a revenge game is on the schedule Wednesday night.

The Blazers handed Swift Current a 7-2 loss on January 19 in Saskatoon - the two teams meet again February 5 at Rod Hamm Memorial Arena. It's a big game to re-establish rhythm against the fourth-place Blazers (26-9-0-1).

"It's huge. I think we just need to look at the video from last game, see where we went wrong against them, correct some things in practice here. I think if we have a good practice, work on some things, we'll be feeling good for Wednesday," said Strang.

Strang and the Legionnaires take on the Blazers at 7:45 p.m.