Burnaby, B.C. – After two years of pandemic cancellations, registrations are now complete and the schedule is in place as 43 teams prepare to compete in the sixth edition of the Pat Quinn Classic.
Teams have been gathering in Burnaby for the annual holiday season tournament since 1962. In 2015, the tournament became the Pat Quinn Classic.
“We are excited to get the tournament back so the kids can compete and get their life lessons from sport,” says Cliff Ronning, honourary chair of the Pat Quinn Classic. In the 1970s, Ronning played in the Burnaby Bantam Hockey Jamboree, saying “it was the tournament young players looked forward to every year.” Ronning says with help from the City of Burnaby and sponsors, this is an event where memories are created.
Burnaby firefighters continue their support
In 2017, the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society announced a long-term commitment to the Pat Quinn Classic with a $50,000 donation over 10 years. “We are proud to be supporting the Pat Quinn Classic once again after a few years of uncertainty,” says Scott Alleyn, President, International Association of Firefighters 323 Burnaby. “To see the players competing on the ice, supported by their friends and families, will bring back an atmosphere of excitement that the tournament delivers to our community.”
Alleyn adds Pat Quinn had an enormous influence in the hockey world. “His love of hockey and his passion for the game is reflected in this prestigious tournament. Burnaby’s firefighters are honoured to contribute to Pat Quinn Scholarship Fund each year – a fund which promotes leadership and community spirit.”
2022 Tournament schedule is set
Action for the 2022 Pat Quinn Classic gets underway on December 27 and continues until the December 31. This year’s tournament has six divisions. The schedule is available here.
This year’s Pat Quinn Classic features 43 teams including six from Washington, California and Arizona. The Bill Copeland Sports Centre, in Burnaby Sport Park, is the feature rink for the tournament. Other venues include Burnaby Lake Arena, Burnaby Winter Club, Kensington Arena, Scotia Barn and Planet Ice Coquitlam.
MEDIA CONTACT: info@patquinnclassic.com
BACKGROUNDER – THE PAT QUINN CLASSIC
The Burnaby Minor Hockey Association began hosting the annual December Bantam hockey tournament in 1962. It is now the longest-running event of its kind in the world. The tournament became the Pat Quinn Classic in 2015, named after the legendary player, coach, general manager and team owner. Pat Quinn is internationally-recognized as one of the hockey’s greatest coaches and ambassadors. Proceeds go to the Pat Quinn Scholarship Fund. Managed by Hockey Canada, the fund supports players in post-secondary education after their hockey careers. Quinn is one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian sport and has made an enormous contribution to sport in British Columbia and Canada.
The objective of the Pat Quinn Classic is to create a top international-calibre tournament in Western Canada to showcase local teams alongside some of the strongest programs in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. Organizers worked with the Quinn family to create a unique tournament that strikes the right balance between exciting hockey, skill and leadership development and community engagement. Pat motivated players at all levels to work hard on the ice and live with passion and integrity off the ice. The vision of this tournament exemplifies his love of hockey and his unwavering commitment to give back to the community.
After being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pat Quinn Classic returns for a sixth edition in December 2022.