Former colleagues say Quinn's death a 'sad day for hockey'

TORONTO -- Pat Quinn is being remembered by friends and colleagues as an inspirational leader who left his mark on hockey.

The former NHL player, coach and executive died Sunday night at age of 71 after a lengthy illness.

"Whether he was playing for a team, coaching a team or building one, Pat Quinn was thoughtful, passionate and committed to success," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Pat's contributions to hockey, at every level, reflected the skills he possessed and the great respect with which he treated the sport.

"The National Hockey League, one of the many organizations to benefit from his devoted service, sends heartfelt condolences to Pat's loved ones and his many friends around the hockey world."

Quinn coached five NHL teams in his 20-year coaching career, and also served as general manager with Vancouver and Toronto. While he never won a Stanley Cup, his teams made the playoffs 15 times. He reached the Stanley Cup final twice, with Philadelphia (1979-90) and Vancouver (1993-94).

"We have lost a great man. It's a sad day for hockey and for everyone who loves our game," said Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden in a statement. Linden was the captain of the 1993-94 Canucks team that lost the Cup final in seven games to the New York Rangers. "On this difficult day I am thinking about Pat, his family and his friends, and how much he will be missed.

"I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for Pat. He was a great leader and always a teacher. He taught me how to be a professional on and off the ice. He taught me how to play hockey the right way, how to win, and about the importance of respect and loyalty.

"Pat's impact on our city has been immeasurable. He was responsible for bringing hockey to the forefront in Vancouver. He brought the pride back to the Canucks and today his finger prints and impact are still felt within this organization."

His crowning achievement arguably came at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, where he led Canada to its first gold medal in 50 years.

While in Salt Lake City, Quinn was also a staunch supporter of Canada's women's team.

Hayley Wickenheiser said she remembers Quinn's reaction on the bench when Canadian women won gold.

"Pat Quinn was a giant of a man in every way. A true leader and a wonderful person," Wickenheiser posted on Twitter.

"One of my fav. Pat Quinn moments was him in tears on our bench after winning gold in Salt Lake 02. He said women inspired the men. #patsbench"

Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut said Quinn made a lasting impression with Canada's Olympic program.

"I had the pleasure of knowing Pat Quinn for almost two decades. He was a larger than life coaching giant in hockey and an outstanding leader in Canada's Olympic movement," Aubut said. "His contributions as a player, coach and builder will never be forgotten and through his work he leaves behind a legacy that has inspired future generations of hockey players."

Quinn's longest stint as a coach was in Toronto, where he led the team to six straight playoff appearances from 1998-99 to 2003-04.

"This is a tremendous loss for the hockey community," Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. "Pat will be revered not only for his great accomplishments in sport but also for his courage and strength in face of his illness, and his dedication to family."

Reid Mitchell, the Maple Leafs' director of hockey and scouting administration, said Quinn had the respect of everyone in the locker-room.

"He was fair but he was always demanded that you sign your name to your work," Mitchell said. "At the end of the day, you go out there, you do your best and be proud of what you did. And he did the same."

Outside the NHL, Quinn was a member of the induction committee at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pat Quinn," said Hall of Fame vice-chairman Jim Gregory. "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."

He started his coaching career with the Los Angeles Kings, where star forward Luc Robitaille remembered him as "a great man for the game of hockey and a person who commanded a lot of respect."

"He was my first NHL coach and he made quite an impression on me as I was breaking into the league and learning the game," Robitaille said in a statement. "He also is the person who called me when I got the news I was being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Needless to say that will always be a special moment I will cherish, and receiving that news was an even greater honour coming from Pat."

Quinn also made his presence felt in the junior hockey community. He was behind the bench when Canada won its last world junior gold medal in 2009, and he was a part owner of the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants.

"Words cannot express the pain we all feel today for the Quinn family," Giants majority owner Ron Toigo said in a statement. "Pat was an inspiration to all of us. He always said that respect was something that should be earned, not given, and the respect that he garnered throughout the hockey world speaks for itself. He will be sorely missed."

B.C Premier Christy Clark called Quinn "one of the finest players, coaches and leaders the NHL has ever produced."

"Pat was a big man with a bigger heart whose legacy will live on for generations, in the hockey world and beyond," Clark said in a statement. "His approach to his illness was the same as his approach to hockey: a challenge he met head on."