Burnaby, B.C. – The San Jose Jr. Sharks, a team participating in the Pat Quinn Classic for the first time, won the Female U15 Elite Division at the 2024 tournament.
The Sharks shutout the Meadow Ridge Barracudas 6-0 in the final game, capping off an undefeated performance throughout the competition. For the second year in a row, the Barracudas earned the silver medal in the Female U15 Elite Division
“We are all super happy and we’ve all been playing really good,” says Sharks forward Amarie Loof. “We tried our best and it paid off in our last game. I think overall, it’s a really fun experience for everyone.”
“It was incredible, but hard work,” says Greg Yatman, a San Jose team parent and assistant coach. “I think a little bit of puck luck, hard work and determination got us to the end. For us, it is a thrill to come here, as Canada is the home of hockey.”
Beyond his team’s dominant performance ice, Sharks head coach Matt Adams says he’s in awe of the Pat Quinn Tournament experience. “I’m impressed with the whole pageantry of the tournament,” he says. “Everything about it, from top to bottom, this is a well-run tournament. We can’t wait to come back.”
In the Female U15 bronze medal game, Burnaby Wildcats (Female U15 A1) beat Tri Cities (Female IHA U15 A2) 4-3.
In the Female U13 Elite Division, Seattle’s Sno-King Junior Thunderbirds was the winner over the Meadow Ridge Barracudas 2-1. “It was fun and I was really happy when we won,” says Marin Winder, who plays centre for Seattle.
This is the Seattle team’s third gold medal in a row in this division at the Pat Quinn Classic. “We have girls who have a lot of heart and are able to make adjustments in between games. They grind it out,” says head coach Joel Willits. “The girls love coming up here. They were focused and wanted to three-peat. They are a really great group of kids.”
In the Female U13 bronze medal game, Burnaby (Female U13 A1) scored a 3-0 victory over Kamloops (13 FA).
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