Pat Quinn Interview..Leafs, Lockout and Bobby Orr Hit
More than six hundred games played, captain, nearly 1000 penalty minutes, coach of 20 NHL seasons, two-time Jack Adams Award winner, husband, father, four-time Canadian gold medalist (Olympics, U18, U20, World Cup), memorial cup champion, owner, lawyer and community ambassador… These are the accolades and accomplishments of one Pat Quinn, the same accomplishments that led him to being named to The Order of Canada.
Listen along as Michael Langois (@VintageLeaf) and Matteo Codispoti (@Wewantacupcom) sit down and chat with one of the game’s most interesting and respected characters. Pat provides the Leaf Matters podcast with some age-old stories as well as insight on today’s game.
Say what you will about Quinn, but his teams gelled. The guy is a Mans man. I spoke to another player who commented on the fact that during Quinn's era you would regularly find him talking to the Zamboni driver or the janitor in his office. Those places are all of limits to everyone now. His comment to me stated "it was a dream down there now it's just a nightmare". Quinn also says he got squeezed out of the organization, and wasn't to happy about it. He also thought we should have beat Carolina and would have won the cup. For what it's worth as a fan talking to him was a freakin highlight. Burke has huge pair of Irish shoes to fill."
Say what you will about Quinn, but his teams gelled. The guy is a Mans man. I spoke to another player who commented on the fact that during Quinn's era you would regularly find him talking to the Zamboni driver or the janitor in his office. Those places are all of limits to everyone now. His comment to me stated "it was a dream down there now it's just a nightmare". Quinn also says he got squeezed out of the organization, and wasn't to happy about it. He also thought we should have beat Carolina and would have won the cup. For what it's worth as a fan talking to him was a freakin highlight. Burke has huge pair of Irish shoes to fill."
Funny story, back when Lindros was a Leaf, my parents went to Buffalo to see a game with some friends. I guess they stayed in the same hotel as the players and they were sitting in the hotel bar when the team started coming down, so they went over to see if they could talk to any of the players or get any autographs.
So Eric Lindros came down and sorta snubbed them off, and right behind him was Pat Quinn and Tie Domi, so they made a comment like "Oh well we will talk to Pat and Tie, we like them better anyway" and they both came up laughing. Tie signed some autographs and went on the bus, but they ended up chatting to Pat for a good 25 minutes while all the players came down
Funny story, back when Lindros was a Leaf, my parents went to Buffalo to see a game with some friends. I guess they stayed in the same hotel as the players and they were sitting in the hotel bar when the team started coming down, so they went over to see if they could talk to any of the players or get any autographs.
So Eric Lindros came down and sorta snubbed them off, and right behind him was Pat Quinn and Tie Domi, so they made a comment like "Oh well we will talk to Pat and Tie, we like them better anyway" and they both came up laughing. Tie signed some autographs and went on the bus, but they ended up chatting to Pat for a good 25 minutes while all the players came down
Funny thing is he punches out Orr in Boston Gardens, (tough guy) then he goes and gets a law degree (smart guy) He does all that he has done in hockey which is legendary. He is still the type of guy that screams "Sandra get the door" during our interview and then says "sorry guys thats the furnace guy" hes just a real guy you can look up to. you can just tell he loves the game but more importantly the people in it.
He thought he was going to the finals with the Canes too
I did like him quite a bit, wished he would have leaned on Sundin a little more like Burns did with Gilmour, aside from that huge error in judgement, he was the man. Have to admit, he had it made here being coach and GM of the Leafs, prior to the salary cap era. Seemed like the team was always a player or two away from the cup. Would have liked to see him use Sundin and Mogilny together more often too...ok just 2 strikes against in my books all good other than that. Heard nothing but good things from those who've met him...
