Burnaby, B.C. –A familiar face for Vancouver Canucks fans will be behind the bench at the 2024 Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational tournament.
Ryan Kesler, who played for the Canucks for 10 years, is now head coach of the Little Caesars 14U Detroit (USA Tier 1) team. The Michigan squad is part of an impressive list of 23 teams from Canada and the United States competing in the second edition of the U15 Elite Invitational, taking place in Burnaby and Delta from November 14 to 17.
“I asked some buddies that live in Vancouver to see if there are any tournaments in town that we could come to,” says Kesler, who started coaching five years ago. When he found out about the Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational, Kesler jumped at the chance. “Pat was a great human and a great coach, so to coach a team at a tournament named after him, is an honour.”
Kesler’s son Ryker is on the team. When they’re on the road, Kesler says he a coach first, then a dad. “I normally don’t get in his way. He’s a serious kid who is dialed in his routine. I really enjoy paying it forward to all these kids.”
Kesler expects some tough competition at the tournament. “I just think it’s a great opportunity to play some different teams and have some challenging games. I wanted to bring the team to Vancouver because I know how special this place is and I wanted to share that with them.”
The tournament features two flights of teams:
- Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- California Goldrush 14U AAA (USA Tier 1)
- Cariboo Cougars BC Zone (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Couer D’Alene Hockey Academy (CSSHL Prep)
- Delta Hockey Academy U15 AAA (Black) (CSSHL Varsity)
- Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep (Green) (Canadian Sport School Hockey League – CSSHL Prep)
- Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U15 AAA (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Greater Vancouver Canadians U15 AAA (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Little Caesars 14U Detroit (USA Tier 1)
- North Shore Warriors Hockey Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- North West Hawks (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Northern Alberta Extreme (CSSHL Prep)
- Okanagan Rockets (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Pacific Coast Hockey Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- San Jose Jr Sharks 14U AAA (USA Hockey Tier 1)
- Shawnigan Lake Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- St. Georges Hockey Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
- Team Alaska 14U (USA Hockey Tier 1)
- Texas Tigers (USA AA)
- Valley West Giants (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Vancouver North East Chiefs (U15 Elite Hockey League)
- Wenatchee Wild 14U
- Yale U15 Prep (CSSHL Prep)
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 and Delta, B.C. from November 14 to 17, 2024, the U15 Elite Invitational promises a high-level hockey experience for players, coaches and fans.
Media Contact: Sammy @ info@patquinnclassic.com
Photo Credit: Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club