New Vancouver statue honours hockey legend Pat Quinn
A new bronze sculpture of the late Pat Quinn was unveiled Saturday in memory of the beloved former Canucks coach and player.
"Pat was more than just a coach and manager," said Canucks president Trevor Linden at the unveiling. "He was a friend and he was a mentor ... he cared about people."
The new sculpture is located just outside of Rogers Arena, adjacent to Pat Quinn Way and near the statue of fellow former coach Roger Neilson.
Designed by sculptor Norm Williams, the life-size statue was a legacy project by some of Quinn's former colleague, friends and fans.
The work depicts Quinn as he appeared while coaching the 1994 Vancouver Canucks, and features the coach holding a roster card engraved with each player's name.
"He was just a great man and an imposing figure, but he was kind and gentle but strong, you know. But he had the respect of his players and that's what's so special," said Linden.
"He was a real mentor and a teacher for me."
Kalli Quinn, the former coach's youngest daughter, said the statue captures his larger-than-life essence.
She also pointed to a bench located next to the statue as a small, but important detail.
"He was in Salt Lake during the Olympics," she said. "The Olympics are special in their own right and he wanted to make sure he had all the experiences everybody else did."
"[There was a bench] outside of Canada House, he would sit out there every day either after practice or after the games, and the athletes of all sports would sit down and come talk to him.
"One day, he showed up to his bench and the athletes had put a sign on it saying 'Pat's Bench'. We still have that sign."
On Saturday, fans joined Quinn's family and former players at the unveiling.
Barbara Katz was there wearing her '90s-era jersey and hat signed by that year's entire team.
"This city was finally given him the recognition that he deserves," she said. "This city [loves] him for everything he was."
Quinn said her father's legacy will also continue in a yet-to-be finalized Pat Quinn Scholarship fund.
She said the fund would go specifically to hockey players or athletes who have finished their post-secondary education and want to pursue a professional designation — a nod to her father's law school degree.
With files from The Early Edition
To listen to the interview, click on the link labelled Pat Quinn's daughter on his new bronze statue
