International Ice Hockey Federation

Pat Quinn passes away

Pat Quinn passes away

Hockey great a success in NHL and world stage

Published 24.11.2014 12:44 GMT-5 | Author Martin Merk
Pat Quinn passes away
In one of his most recent coaching positions, Pat Quinn led Canada to gold at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on home ice in Ottawa. Photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
Canadian coaching great Pat Quinn died on Sunday at the age of 71 at the Vancouver General Hospital after a lengthy illness.

Pat Quinn was a hugely influential presence in all levels of the game, spending four decades in the NHL as a player, head coach and general manager. Not only was Quinn successful in the NHL where he won the Jack Adams Awards as the Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1992, he left an enduring legacy for Canada on the international stage.

In his first stint as the national team coach he led Canada to a bronze medal at the 1986 World Championship. 16 years later he became Canada’s head coach in Salt Lake City 2002 and led his country to its first Olympic gold in 50 years.

Under Quinn Team Canada also won the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He also was the head coach at the 2006 Olympics and led Canada to gold in both the 2008 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship and in the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on home ice in Ottawa, the last time that Canada raised the trophy. He was the only coach to win gold in all these four competitions. Quinn also coached Team Canada at the 2006 Spengler Cup.

A former NHL defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Flames, the Hamilton, Ontario native became an NHL coach with the Philadelphia Flyers two days after his 36th birthday when he was promoted from the farm team in the midst of the season.

In his first full season he led the Flyers to the 1980 Stanley Cup finals with a record-breaking streak of 35 wins. Later he also coached the Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers during a span of 20 years.

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He showed his dedication for the future and the past of hockey most recently as a co-owner of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants and as Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pat Quinn,” Jim Gregory, Vice-Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, confirmed the sad news. “Pat is one of hockey's most respected individuals whose lifetime involvement as a player, coach and executive has made an indelible mark on the game, and our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and all of Pat's family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”

 

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