The Vancouver Canucks have announced plans to honour late former coach and general manager Pat Quinn, whose death Sunday after a lengthy illness sent shockwaves throughout the hockey world.
The team will hold a video tribute and moment of silence Rogers Arena prior to tonight’s game versus the New Jersey Devils, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The Canucks said players will continue to honour Quinn, who died at age 71, by wearing “PQ” decals on their helmets for the remainder of the 2014-2015 NHL season.
A display of Canucks history in Section 121 of the arena will be converted into a Pat Quinn memorial, complete with images and videos of Quinn’s time with the team, which he coached from 1990-1996.
The team also announced plans to hold a larger ceremony in celebration of Quinn’s life at a game later on the season.
Quinn died at Vancouver General Hospital Sunday night after a battle with an undisclosed illness.
His death sparked an outpouring of grief from former and current players, coaches and public officials like Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. Premier Christy Clark.
Trevor Linden, who was first drafted by Quinn and the Canucks in 1987, held a news conference Monday to talk about the impact his mentor had on his life.
“He really taught me the game,” Linden said. “A lot of the lessons he taught me I still think about today.”
Quinn was born on Jan. 29, 1943 in Hamilton, Ont. and coached more than 1,400 games with five teams in the NHL.
