Burnaby – At this year’s Pat Quinn Classic, 49 teams will compete in seven divisions. Of those teams, one-third are from the United States.
“I am impressed by the increasing interest from American hockey teams in the Pat Quinn Classic,” says Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley. “This speaks to the recognition that this December holiday season tournament is becoming the place to be for teams wanting to experience a professionally-run, high-calibre hockey event. Burnaby fans are in for some exciting action on the ice.”
At least six teams are coming to the Pat Quinn Classic for the first time.
“We are ready to welcome the new participants along with the teams who make the Pat Quinn Classic a regular part of their annual competition calendar,” says Robyn Hughes, director of Sport Burnaby. “In addition to the competition, players will be able to experience all that Burnaby and the Lower Mainland has to offer.”
The Bill Copeland Sports Centre will be the feature venue for the Pat Quinn Classic. Games will also take place in the new Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in south Burnaby. The year-round multi-sport facility with two NHL-sized rinks opened in spring 2024. Other venues include the Burnaby Winter Club, Kensington Arena, Planet Ice Delta and the North Surrey Sport and Ice Complex.
The 2024 Pat Quinn Classic features 49 teams in seven divisions:
- 23 from the Lower Mainland
- 10 from the rest of B.C.
- 16 from the United States
The divisions are:
- Female U13 Elite
- Female U15 Elite
- Integrated U13 Flight 1
- Integrated U15 Flight 1
- Integrated U15 Flight 2
- Integrated U17 Flight 1
- Integrated U17 Flight 2
The tournament runs from December 27 to 31 at venues in Burnaby, Delta and Surrey.
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.
MEDIA CONTACT
Samuel @ info@patquinnclassic.com