Pat Quinn

Pat Quinn was a hard-nosed NHL defenceman who became one of the most respected head coaches in hockey history, guiding the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs and coaching Canada to Olympic gold in 2002.

John Brian Patrick Quinn was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1943. He played eight professional seasons as a defenceman before becoming one of hockey's most respected coaches. As a coach he won three Jack Adams Awards as NHL Coach of the Year (1980 with Philadelphia, 1992 with Vancouver, 2000 with Toronto). He coached the Vancouver Canucks to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals. He coached Team Canada to the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics — the first Canadian Olympic gold in men's hockey in 50 years. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016. He was one of the most physically intimidating players of his era as a defenceman — his body check against Bobby Orr in the 1969 playoffs that knocked Orr unconscious was one of the most controversial hits of the decade. He combined legal but devastating hitting as a player with an intellectual, strategic approach to coaching. He was universally respected in Canadian hockey for his integrity and his coaching achievements across 50 professional years.

As a player, Quinn was a physical, stay-at-home defenseman known for his tough, no-nonsense approach to the game. He was particularly effective at clearing the front of the net and wasn't afraid to use his body to protect his goaltender.

Quinn's greatest impact came as a coach and executive, where he helped develop numerous players and built competitive teams throughout his decades-long career behind the bench.

• Jack Adams Award (1980)
• coached Canada to 2002 Olympic gold and 2009 World Junior gold
• Hockey Hall of Fame (2016, Builder)