One of Castlegar’s most famous former residents — Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green — has been awarded the Pat Quinn Coach Award from the BC Hockey Hall of Fame (BCHHF).
The award is named for Pat Quinn, a Canadian hockey player, coach and executive. Among many other things, Quinn coached for the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The Pat Quinn award is presented annually to an individual at any level of coaching that “helps and shares excellence by educating players in the sport of hockey.”
Green was unable to attend the BCHHF induction ceremony in Penticton where his award was presented as he was in California celebrating his daughter’s high school graduation but sent a message to be played at the event.
“I had the honour to play for Pat Quinn in Toronto, and to receive a reward that stands for everything Pat stood for is very special to me and very dear to my heart,” said Green. “We all know Pat was a great coach and made so many young men better hockey players.
“Maybe the biggest and probably the most important thing I learned from Pat was how to care for your players first and foremost. As a coach, I can only hope to impact people as Pat did for me and so many others in his life.”
