Former National Hockey League coach and executive Pat Quinn has died. He was 71 years old.
Quinn’s death was announced by the Vancouver Giants, a major junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League that Quinn co-owned.
Quinn died Sunday night at Vancouver General Hospital after a “lengthy illness,” the team announced.
"Words cannot express the pain we all feel today for the Quinn family," Giants majority owner Ron Toigo said in a statement posted to the team’s website.
"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."
The Hockey Hall of Fame also issued a statement to say the organization is “deeply saddened” by Quinn’s passing.
“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."
Quinn twice won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach, first with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1980 and then again in 1992, when he was coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
Quinn also served as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1998 and 2006 and the Los Angeles Kings in the 1980s.
His last stint as a head coach was with the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10.
Quinn was born on Jan. 29, 1943 in Hamilton, Ont.
He played defence for parts of nine seasons in the NHL, including with the Leafs, Canucks and the Atlanta Flames before becoming a coach.
While he never won a Stanley Cup, Quinn served as head coach of the gold medal-winning men’s hockey team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
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