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While it would have been nicer if he had been alive to accept his induction, I am happy for Pat Quinn's wife Sandra and his daughters Valerie and Kalli that the Big Irishman is getting inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.
Pat was an intense competitor but he was a gentleman away from the ice. It was actually more enjoyable to talk to him about non-hockey subjects than it was to pick his mind about the game, because he was an interesting man beyond hockey. He also had a sense of humor him and did not carry grudges. You could go nose-to-nose with Quinner and it was all forgotten the next time you saw one another. He treated you with respect, and commanded respect.
He wasn't a Hall of Fame caliber player, but he was rawhide tough and an honest, hard-working player. To steal a catch phrase started in the movie "They Live", Quinner came to kick ass and chew bubblegum-- or, more appropriately in his case, throw it. So you were wise to keep him stocked up on the gum to keep him from running out. Here's my favorite memory of Pat.
Quinn, who was coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time had thrown a piece of gum at Scott Driscoll in a Wednesday game in Toronto and got fined by the NHL. I watched it on TV in Montreal on my way to Buffalo for a Friday night fame followed by a game in Toronto on Saturday.
I worked the first game after Quinn got fined. I recall that I stayed at the Eton Center Marriott, from where I could walk to the rink. On the way, I stopped at Mac's convenience store and bought six packs of various flavors of gum.
After the anthem, Quinn waited til it was done to walk out of the dressing room and up the walkway from the Leafs' room. Rick Ley was his assistant.
I skated over and put the gum on the bench. Rick asked what was I doing.
"Give 'em to Pat," I said. "He'll have plenty of ammo for me during the game."
Just before I dropped the puck for the opening faceoff, I turned toward the Maple Leafs bench. Pat was doubled over, laughing. I nodded, he winked and the game was underway.
Another favorite Quinn story: One game, I skated over to him and bantered a bit.
"Pat, I saw that call on TV last night," I said. "You got screwed."
Pat thought I was referring to a controversial call from the prior game. He started to talk about that call, ripping the work of the ref from the prior game.
"Oh, no," I said. "Not that game, Pat."
He looked at me.
"I was watching one of those NHL Classics game. They showed that hit you had on Orr coming up the boards. Wally Harris screwed you. That was no penalty," I said.
Pat didn't skip a beat.
"Yeah, I got screwed there, too," he said. "But about last night..."
The whole bench broke up, laughing. So did I.
Pat left us too soon. He's missed.
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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, Stewart iserves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.
In addition to his blogs for HockeyBuzz every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Stewart writes a column every Wednesday for the Huffington Post.