Pat Quinn

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For the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois see Pat Quinn (politician)

For the Irish grocery chain entrepreneur, see Quinnsworth

Position	Defenseman
Shot	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg)
Pro Clubs	Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks Atlanta Flames
Nationality	Canada
Born	January 29, 1943, Hamilton, ON, CAN
Pro Career	1963 – 1977

John Brian Patrick "Pat" Quinn (born January 29, 1943, in Hamilton, Ontario), is a former head coach in the National Hockey League, most recently with the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1998 and 2006. He is also a former NHL defenceman.

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Management 3 International 4 External links

[edit] Playing career

He did not have a particularly distinguished playing career, known more for his toughness than his skill. He was probably best-known for a thundering open-ice body check against Bobby Orr in the Boston Garden during the 1969 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins which left Orr unconscious and provoked not only a bench-clearing brawl, but a suspension for Quinn.

After several years in the minor leagues in the EHL, CPHL and WHL, he was called up by the Maple Leafs in 1968. In 1970, the Vancouver Canucks claimed Quinn in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft. After two years in Vancouver, he again was left unprotected in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft, and spent the next five years with the Atlanta Flames (their first in the NHL) before retiring in 1977. A large part of his retirement was centered around a knee injury which was suffered after stepping on his son's skateboard outside of his home.

[edit] Management

He became an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers later in 1977, but briefly left hockey to attend law school at Widener University. Soon after his graduation he was made head coach of the Flyers. During the 1979-80 NHL season, his first full season with the Flyers, he led the team to a record breaking 35 game unbeaten streak that culminated in a trip to the Stanley Cup finals, where they were upset by the New York Islanders. Quinn won the Jack Adams Award for his effort. Quinn stayed with the Flyers two more years, but was replaced late in the season during his fourth year. He then continued his law studies at Widener University.

Two years later he was hired by the Los Angeles Kings, and was head coach until 1987 when he moved to the Vancouver Canucks as general manager. In 1991 he also took over the coaching duties with the Canucks, and in that season, won his second Jack Adams Award as a dramatically improved Canucks succeeded in winning their division. In 1994 Quinn led the Canucks to their first Stanley Cup final in 12 years, out coaching the Maple Leafs' Pat Burns in the conference finals, but then losing to the New York Rangers, with Mike Keenan at the helm, in a thrilling seven game series. After this success Quinn gave up his coaching duties to focus on serving solely as Vancouver's general manager until 1998.

In that year he moved to Toronto to become head coach of the perennially downtrodden Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first season as coach the Maple Leafs' record improved dramatically. As a result of Quinn's coaching the Leafs reached the conference finals but lost to the Buffalo Sabres. After the season, Quinn was given the additional duties of General Manager as a reward for his outstanding season. Pat Quinn was again a finalist for the Jack Adams Award but failed to win. Under Quinn, the Toronto Maple Leafs had consistently been contenders, but were never able to reach the Stanley Cup finals during his tenure.

Quinn was the winningest active coach in the NHL and 4th all time with 616 wins and is recognized by the hockey community as one of the top coaches of the NHL. Quinn's NHL coaching record includes 11 first round playoff wins in 16 seasons. An astounding winning percentage of 69%, surpassed only by coaching legend Scotty Bowman, 71%, and ahead of New York Islanders legend Al Arbour, 66%.

On April 20, 2006, Quinn was fired along the Maple Leafs assistant coach and former teammate Rick Ley. Neither were offered another position within the organization. Toronto Marlies coach Paul Maurice was announced as Quinn's successor as coach of the Maple Leafs. Quinn gave his final low-key goodbyes to the Maple Leaf franchise on Thursday, April 27, 2006 in a written statement.[1]

On June 8, 2006, Pat Quinn returned to his hometown in Hamilton, Ontario to accept an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from McMaster University . He addressed the convocation of Social Sciences graduates, saying that "education is a toolbox to make career changes. It is good advice for you to follow your dreams, listen to your heart and obey your passion".

Quinn continues to reside in Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife Sandra and 2 daughters Valerie and Kalli. He is also a cousin of former professional wrestler "Big" John Quinn.

Pat Quinn is also a member of the committee that determines who is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

[edit] International

At the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Quinn coached Team Canada to their first Olympic Gold Medal in ice hockey at the Olympic Games since 1952, and later received a standing ovation from the Montreal Canadiens fans at the Bell Centre for his efforts.

In 2004, Pat Quinn coached Team Canada to victory in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, its first such win in over 10 years, and held prior to the lockout that abolished the 2004-2005 NHL season.

In their quest for Olympic gold, Hockey Canada, the umbrella organization that overseas Canadian Hockey, turned to Quinn to lead Team Canada's effort for a second consecutive Olympic Gold Medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics held in Turin, Italy. Despite top seeding, Canada went 3-2 through the preliminary round, losing to Switzerland and Finland (both by 2-0 shutouts), then lost to Russia (again by a 2-0 score) in the quarter-finals, and being ranked seventh, just ahead of the USA.

[edit] External links

• Legends of Hockey
• CBS Sportsline

Preceded by Keith McCreary	Atlanta Flames captains 1975-77	Succeeded by Tom Lysiak
Preceded by Bob McCammon	Head Coaches of the Philadelphia Flyers 1979–1982	Succeeded by Bob McCammon
Preceded by Roger Neilson	Head Coaches of the Los Angeles Kings 1984–1987	Succeeded by Mike Murphy
Preceded by Bob McCammon	Head Coaches of the Vancouver Canucks 1991–1994	Succeeded by Rick Ley
Preceded by Rick Ley	Head Coaches of the Vancouver Canucks 1996	Succeeded by Tom Renney
Preceded by Mike Murphy	Head Coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs 1998–2006	Succeeded by Paul Maurice