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November 24, 2014 10:39 AM

Ex-Maple Leaf coach Pat Quinn dead at 71 [Toronto Star]

"Former Toronto Maple Leaf coach and general manager Pat Quinn has died at the age of 71. Quinn died Sunday night in Vancouver after a lengthy illness, the Hockey Hall of Fame and Vancouver Giants said Monday. Quinn, who was co-owner of the WHL’s Giants, was 71.

posted by Fizz (25 comments total)

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posted by iviken at 10:42 AM on November 24, 2014

\_ .
posted by eriko at 10:46 AM on November 24, 2014 [21 favorites]

[Stick tap]
posted by chasles at 11:09 AM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]

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posted by eendje at 11:12 AM on November 24, 2014

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posted by ghharr at 11:15 AM on November 24, 2014

He had horrible health habits and coached the Leafs. Two things that would shorten just about anyone's life. He must have been a tank.
posted by srboisvert at 11:38 AM on November 24, 2014 [4 favorites]

If I remember correctly, he had a gay son and was a huge advocate for gay rights, etc. If so, that is what I will remember for.
posted by repoman at 11:42 AM on November 24, 2014

Actually that is Brian Burke.
posted by bitteroldman at 11:48 AM on November 24, 2014

you sure you're not thinking about Brian Burke?

on non-preview, beaten by b.o.p.
posted by bumpkin at 11:49 AM on November 24, 2014

You're likely thinking of Brian Burke, former Leafs President and GM, who helped launch You Can Play.
posted by frimble at 11:49 AM on November 24, 2014

Yes, it was Burke. Sorry.

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posted by repoman at 11:54 AM on November 24, 2014

I'll say this, the man could chew gum.
posted by mazola at 11:58 AM on November 24, 2014

The Hockey News Post to Post blog mentions the infamous hit he laid on Bobby Orr, considered one of the landmark hits in hockey history. Here he is talking about the incident years later (SLYT).
posted by pdxjmorris at 12:26 PM on November 24, 2014

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posted by cacofonie at 1:02 PM on November 24, 2014

Surely for a hockey great, we should use three periods?

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posted by mightygodking at 1:03 PM on November 24, 2014 [9 favorites]

The first few years of Quinn's Leafs were some of my favorite hockey years ever. Fast, free-flowing and super fun and exciting to watch.

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posted by biscotti at 1:08 PM on November 24, 2014

Won a Memorial Cup with Glen Sather, got picked twice in Expansion Drafts, had an iconic moment with Bobby Orr, won a Jack Adams, got suspended from coaching for 3 seasons, drafted Pavel Bure, won an Olympic gold medal, and was probably the least-hated Leafs coach of the last 20 years.

That's a hell of a career.
posted by Copronymus at 1:34 PM on November 24, 2014 [3 favorites]

No mention of the '94 Canucks/Rangers finals in this thread, one of the greatest in league history?

That will be my ever lasting memory of Quinn, taking that Canucks team within 1 game of winning the cup.

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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 1:56 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]

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posted by KingEdRa at 2:27 PM on November 24, 2014

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posted by 724A at 2:44 PM on November 24, 2014

He was coaching / managing Vancouver during the years I was in high school, which is when I seriously followed the team. He's ever and always been my mental image of what a hockey coach is.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:57 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]

My father never tired of talking about that hit on Orr, specifically, the sign a fan hung at MLG the next time the Bruins were in town.

WIND QUINN
FLOOR ORR
posted by davebush at 3:21 PM on November 24, 2014

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posted by blob at 8:42 PM on November 24, 2014

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posted by Lukenlogs at 10:59 PM on November 24, 2014

Before the game in Vancouver tonight, anthem singer Mark Donnelly did an amazing tribute rendition of Danny Boy.
posted by mannequito at 11:55 PM on November 25, 2014