Anyone who has had the luxury of meeting him leaves with memories that will last a life-time.

He has  what some might call the “Midas Touch” as he was one that wanted to not only help but develop anyone he could.

He was given the nick-name of  “The Big Irishman” and for someone that came from steel town, better known as Hamilton he was as strong as the steel produced from his home town.

He was the cousin to former pro-wrestler “Big John Quinn, but Pat chose a different career.

His junior career started with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs and also the Hamilton Kitty B’s organization in the OHA.

He was offered a scholarship and accepted from Michigan Tech, but was later deemed to be ineligible  to play in the NCAA as had (already) signed his rights to the Wings.

Since this was something he never expected he moved west and joined the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Central Alberta Hockey League, helping them win the 1963 Memorial Cup.

This would be his only year with Edmonton and while there he played alongside Glen Sather, a future hall of famer himself.

At the start of the 63-64 season he played in various minor leagues, but it was his time with Tulsa where he got the call to join the Maple Leafs in 68.

It was in his rookie season that he sent shock-waves around the league when he delivered an open-ice body-check on Bruins super-star Bobby Orr in the 69 playoffs.

Following a short two year stint with the Leafs he was claimed in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft by the Vancouver Canucks.

He spent two impressive seasons then was on the move again in another Expansion Draft, but this time he went to the Atlanta Flames and served as team captain.

He retired in 77 following an ankle injury and from there his career took off, but in a different direction.

Flyers Head Coach Fred Shero hired him as his assistant and went on to become the Head Coach of the Flyers farm team the Maine Mariners of the AHL.

Eventually he left Philly and became the Head Coach of the Kings, but was signed by the Canucks during the 87-88 campaign – still under contract with the Kings.

Quinn’s logic was that the Kings had missed a deadline on an option on his contract, which apparently had a clause whereby he could negotiate with other clubs.

Regardless, the NHL President John Ziegler felt it necessary and suspended him for the remainder of the season, thereby baring him from being involved with the Canucks, nor could he coach until the 90-91 season.

While being barred from coaching it seems there is more than one way to get around this, so he now became the Canucks President and GM.

It was this move that saw him bring in Kirk McLean and BC born player Greg Adams, Trevor Linden (2nd overall pick) and Pavel Bure (113th overall) in the 89 draft.

He Coached Team Canada at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, winning Canada’s first Gold Medal since 1952, in an impressive 5-2 victory over the US.

He left the NHL Coaching ranks and turned his attention to Junior Hockey serving as the bench boss for the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships.

He was a part owner for the WHL Vancouver Giants until his untimely death in 2014, but his legacy lives on.

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

Last evening the Vancouver Giants paid tribute to Pat who is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame along with Eric Lindros, Sergei Makarov and Rogie Vachon.

The Giants unveiled a tribute jersey for Pat and not only did it display a shamrock, it was also in the Canucks Blue and Green.

Pat’s legacy lives on and he touched numerous individuals who to this day mention how personable and dedicated he was.

A teacher – An Ambassador – A Legend!!

His legacy lives on!