November 17, 2023
The stand-alone Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational tournament is getting an enthusiastic response from participating teams.
Former NHL-er Patrick Marleau, the assistant coach of the San Jose Junior Sharks, says it is great for California-based teams to come to Canada to experience this type of tournament. “It’s good for these kids, because in the U.S., we only play 16-minute periods,” he explains. “We’re getting some exposure to the WHL scouts. The players are benefitting from this experience. It’s a great tournament.”
Another California team competing in the tournament is the LA Junior Kings. Assistant coach Jamie Storr, who played for the NHL LA Kings, says the U15 Elite Invitational is a chance for his players to meet teams they don’t normally see on the ice. “It’s a really good event for the kids. It is a good measuring stick for them. For a child growing up in Los Angeles, this gives them a chance to see what the WHL is about. Every one of these kids has dreams of playing in the WHL.”
The hockey director for Vancouver’s St. George’s School, Todd Harkins, says November is a great time for a specific U15 competition. “A lot of the top teams take time off at Christmas, so this is the time of the year when teams can travel and experience a great tournament.” Harkins, also a former NHL player (Calgary and Hartford), says this new U15 elite tournament builds on the success of the Pat Quinn Classic. “I’ve been around this tournament for a long time and it’s well run and the place to be if you are a top-rated player in Western Canada and the United States.”
And Harkins says being part of a tournament named after Pat Quinn is always special. “I’m glad this tournament is named after him as he was an amazing person and cared about the kids.”
The 16 participating teams in the Pat Quinn Classic U15 Elite Invitational are:
- Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep
- California Golden Bears
- Cariboo Cougars
- Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep (Black)
- Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep (Green)
- Fraser Valley Thunderbirds
- LA Jr Kings
- Northern Alberta Xtreme
- Pacific Coast Hockey Academy
- RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna
- San Jose Jr Sharks
- Shawnigan Lake
- St. Georges
- Valley West Giants
- Wenatchee Wild
- Yale Hockey Academy
View the tournament schedule, stats and standings here.
The tournament wraps up on November 19.
The U15 Elite Invitational is the first part of the 2023 Pat Quinn Classic. The competition continues in December with eight other divisions.
- Dec. 27 – 30: U15 Female Elite and U13 Female Elite
- Dec. 28 – 31: U17 Integrated Elite, U17 Integrated Flight 1, U15 Integrated Flight 1, U15 Integrated Flight 2, U13 Integrated Elite, and U13 Integrated Flight 1
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: info@patquinnclassic.com