Burnaby, B.C. -Scott Hannan grew up playing hockey in Surrey, down the road from Planet Ice Delta, one of the venues for the 2024 Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational. Hannan, who played for 16 seasons and more than 1,000 games in the NHL, took on a new role this year as the director of the San Jose Junior Sharks Hockey Club program. “It’s been quite the journey,” says Hannan. “Obviously, getting drafted with the Sharks and playing the bulk of my career there and setting up my home there, given that experience, I love northern California.” His two boys play hockey, so he supports their goals and all the kids in the Junior Sharks program. “To give back to the sport that gave me so much pleasure is an amazing experience.”
Comparing minor hockey now to when he was a teen in Surrey, Hannan says they didn’t have these big international tournaments. “We just played local teams from North Delta and South Delta and Coquitlam. Its good to see the game change and grow.”
San Jose has sent teams to the Pat Quinn tournaments in the past and he says being part of the U15 Elite Invitational provides a great opportunity to challenge his players. “We know this is a tough tournament,” says Hannan. “There are great teams up here. Everybody can skate and play hard. It’s excellent to see that. The boys are competing and having fun. It’s just been awesome.”
When asked if his players know much about Pat Quinn, Hannan chuckles saying “they barely know that I played in the game.” Quinn coached him as part of the Canadian national team that won gold at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. “He’s just amazing and synonymous with hockey in Vancouver and the NHL,” says Hannan. “It’s great to see the tournament named after him and an honour for the guy who was a legend.”
Hockey has been growing in California since Wayne Gretzky’s time with the LA Kings in the late 1980s and 1990s, and of course, when the Sharks entered the NHL in 1991. “To see where it’s at now, it’s great to see that and to see the enjoyment of the kids,” adds Hannan.
He will be back in B.C. next month as his son is part of a San Jose Junior Sharks U12 team at the Pat Quinn Classic December tournament.
About the San Jose Junior Sharks
The San Jose Jr. Sharks is a youth hockey club where its goal is long-term development, not short-term success. The Club offers different level teams with different emphasis, to address the different needs and interests of members in the program. The Jr. Sharks offer competitive teams for youth (ages 9-18) and girls (ages 8-19). To lead hockey growth in Northern California, the San Jose Jr. Sharks foster excellence through top-tier coaching and resources, empowering players to reach their full potential and advance to collegiate or junior leagues.
About the Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational
The Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational was created in 2023 as a standalone tournament. It builds on the legacy of the Pat Quinn Classic annual holiday season tournament. Hosted in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Delta from November 14 to 17, 2024, the U15 Elite Invitational promises a high-level hockey experience for players, coaches and fans.
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