Burnaby, B.C. – Former members of the Vancouver Canucks took to the ice at the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre on December 28 for a special exhibition game to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pat Quinn Classic. Facing off against the Burnaby Firefighters, the Alumni gathered to honour the tournament’s first decade of excellence in minor hockey.
While the Burnaby Firefighters secured a 3-1 victory, the true focus of the afternoon was the enduring impact of Pat Quinn. Cliff Ronning, honorary chair of the Pat Quinn Classic, assembled the roster of Canucks legends to mark the milestone.
“You say something about Pat Quinn and they [the Canucks Alumni] want to come and help out,” said Ronning. “The biggest thing is keeping Pat Quinn’s legacy alive. He represented the Canadian spirit and was great for the game of hockey. That’s why this tournament has become so successful.”
Ronning noted the participation of a team from Kushiro, Japan in this year’s tournament is an example of the event’s increasing professionalism and international reputation.
“It has just become better and better,” Ronning added. “Everyone tells me how well the tournament is run, and that makes a big difference for teams that want to travel here. And there are monster trophies for the kids to win.”
Members of the Canucks Alumni reflected on the anniversary game, the growth and reach of the tournament and Pat Quinn’s legacy.
“It’s outstanding. I would bet that Pat would be proud of Kalli [Quinn] and Cliffy [Ronning] and everybody who is helping out to put the tournament together. Pat was all about the kids and hockey and treating people the right way. It’s a great thing to see that the tournament is growing and getting better every year. I was lucky, I played a lot of years with Pat as a coach and a manager. He meant so much to me. I have a lot of great memories.” — Jyrki Lumme (Canucks, 1989 – 1998)
“Pat was our mentor when he was here and running the show. For all of us who played on his teams, we owe him a lot. And to keep his legacy going, it’s a great thing. The tournament is full and strong. When there’s interest from far away, it makes it important for those teams to participate. They know how important the tournament is for Burnaby and the Lower Mainland. With Pat’s name on this, we’ll be here to support it.” — Dave Babych (Canucks, 1991 – 1998)
“I played for Pat Quinn and he had such a positive impact on me. He was the best coach I ever had. To come here and be a part of it, is amazing. Let me tell you, the Burnaby firefighters were a well-tuned machine. That’s probably one of the most high-tempoed games I have played in 20 years.” — Nathan LaFayette (Canucks, 1993 – 1995)
“I think the Pat Quinn Classic is one of the best tournaments around. My kids played in the Pat Quinn Classic. It’s their favourite tournament. Pat was a bigger-than-life guy and we miss him tremendously. He’s a presence. Anytime you can give back to a tournament like this, I will do that. We have so much hockey in the Lower Mainland, so it’s great to see teams from outside of Canada. Doing the autograph session [before the game], it was awesome to see the kids from Japan. I think they’re having a great time. For everyone who comes to this tournament, it’s a great experience.” — Denis Pederson (Canucks, 1999 – 2002)
“We’re a bunch of guys that like giving back to the community. We are grateful to have had our careers, so now it’s time to give back and the Canucks Alumni does a great job of visiting communities and raising awareness about different programs. I don’t put my gear on too much anymore, so it’s nice to go out and play against a good team like the Burnaby firefighters. My dad was a firefighter and I grew up watching his firefighters’ team play.” — Chris Higgins (Canucks, 2010 – 2016)
About the Pat Quinn Classic
A minor hockey tournament in late December has been a fixture on the Burnaby sport calendar since 1962, making this event one of the longest-running hockey tournaments of its kind in the world.
Originally organized by the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association, the tournament was relaunched in 2015 with a new vision and a new name, honouring the legacy of the legendary Pat Quinn and celebrating the proud history of the tournament in Burnaby. Attracting top young players from across Canada, the U.S., and the world, the Pat Quinn Classic provides a premier tournament experience for participants with a focus on athletics, academic excellence and community leadership.
The 2025 Pat Quinn Classic is taking place in venues in Burnaby, Delta and Surrey, with 55 teams participating in eight divisions. The tournament runs until December 31.
MEDIA CONTACT
info@patquinnclassic.com
Photos by Manto Nakamura
