TORONTO (Dec. 9) — It has been more than 10 years since Hall–of–Fame coach Pat Quinn died (Nov. 23, 2014) of a liver ailment. Quinn coached and managed the Maple Leafs from 1998–99 to 2005–06, which coincided with my years covering the team, home and away, for The FAN–590, Canada’s first all–sports radio station.

When I think of the Big Irishman today, which I do frequently, warm and fond memories prevail. I delineate my relationship with Quinn straight down the middle: we fought with and disparaged one another through the first four years of his time with the Maple Leafs; got along like uncle and nephew in his last four years. The dichotomy began when Quinn arrived from Vancouver with a chip on his shoulder the size of Mount Everest. Despite guiding the Canucks to Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup final, he’d been ridden hard in the media out west, particularly by now Hall–of–Fame columnist Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province. Here in Toronto, we had “Tony Gallagher East,” otherwise known as Al Strachan (of the Toronto Sun): the Yin and Yang of Canadian hockey columnists.

Though Quinn’s hiring by the Leafs was met with overwhelming approval in the Toronto media, he came to town with a loaded gun, so to speak, figuring he would absorb similar abuse while coaching a team that had missed the playoffs two years running… and a roster that evidently couldn’t put the puck in the ocean (under Mike Murphy, the 1997–98 Maple Leafs finished last in the old Central Division, behind Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, Phoenix and Chicago. Only Tampa Bay, Chicago and Ottawa counted fewer than Toronto’s 194 goals).

Though our acquaintance was sporadic, I had always enjoyed a good rapport with Quinn, whom I idolized as a youngster for his rugged comportment as a Maple Leafs defenseman (1968–70). Quinn became somewhat legendary here in town after kayoing Bobby Orr with a titanic bodycheck in Game 1 of the 1969 Stanley Cup quarterfinals at Boston Garden. I spent a wondrous hour with the Big Irishman in his office at the old Pacific Coliseum while covering the 1994 Western Conference final between the Leafs and Canucks. For my first hockey book — MAPLE LEAF MOMENTS A 30–Year Reflection — Quinn happily recalled the hit on Orr and the wild aftermath of that lopsided match in Beantown; the Bruins demolished the Leafs, 10–0; the game dissolving into a bench–clearing donnybrook late in the third period in which Toronto roughneck Forbes Kennedy took on the entire Boston club and punched linesman George Ashley to the ice (it was Kennedy’s final NHL appearance).

I also remembered chatting with Quinn on the floor of the Montreal Forum prior to the 1984 National Hockey League draft. He was under consideration to become the Leafs new coach and I expressed hope that Harold Ballard would hire him. “I hope so, too,” he replied with a smile. Having missed out, Quinn told me, years later on radio, that Ballard “didn’t want to hire a ‘Mick’.” But, what about the man that got the job, I wondered? Wasn’t Dan Maloney also of Irish descent? “I guess ol’ Harold didn’t mind hiring that ‘Mick’,” Quinn laughed, on the record.

Mistakenly, I thought Quinn would recall our friendly coexistence when he arrived here in town. I confidently approached him one day in the corridor at Maple Leaf Gardens about doing a “Pat Quinn Show” as part of my hour–long lead in to games on The FAN–590. With pay. “Nope, not interested,” he snapped, turning away from me.

While in the lobby of the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver for a pre–season game, I asked Quinn if media members could ride the team bus to the arena, a privilege granted by his predecessors, Pat Burns, Nick Beverley and Mike Murphy. “Oh, you were able to do that back then?” he replied, apparently unaware. “Well, you’re not doing it anymore. Just the broadcasters (Joe Bowen, Jim Ralph, Bob Cole, Harry Neale).” Seconds later, I noticed Strachan, also on the trip, about to climb aboard the Leaf bus. “Al,” I hollered, “you better make a U–turn.” At which point I explained the new rule to the Sun columnist (in later years, when Strachan and I openly feuded, I often wished I hadn’t given him that warning. Seeing Al thrown off the bus by Quinn would have been delightful).

Quinn generally despised the media and I was a reporter. It was guilt by association. This did not apply in the few instances we ran into each other away from the glare of TV lights and microphones. In media scrums, however, we quarreled (which made for good sound–bytes that I always used on the air and likely ticked off the big Irishman even more). One day, after a Leafs morning skate in Carolina, I exited through the media gate of PNC Arena and came across Quinn chatting with my ol’ pal, Mike Zeisberger, then of the Toronto Sun (today, with NHL.com).

“Hello Howard,” said Quinn with the enthusiasm of a man about to prep for a colonoscopy.

“Y’know, Pat, it’s really puzzling why we can’t be more friendly,” I offered.

Quinn glanced in my direction.

“I mean, look at me and Zeis. I’m a Heeb and he’s a Kraut. Yet, we get along famously.”

Zeisberger turned white and smiled weakly. Quinn burst into a quick laugh.

Which was entirely my objective.

As it happened, Quinn and I had a dreadful accord between 1998 and 2002. He was a big, intimidating man, before whom I could not wither. I gave as hard as I received. There were times he referred to me as “four–eyes” in media scrums and wondered why “the lobotomy didn’t work.” I often questioned his coaching record on the air, pointing out he had never won anything of note (even while coming razor–close with the 1994 Canucks). It culminated with the most–shameful moment of my 23 years in radio, when I said to Quinn during a media scrum at the Air Canada Centre “you’re such a dick.” Though lauded by my media brethren moments afterward, I felt nauseous and asked to see the coach in his office. Whereupon I profusely apologized. “To be honest, I was acting like a dick today,” Quinn replied. One on one, Pat and I never had an issue. In a group situation, it was altogether different.

In the end, as often happens, perspective turned around our relationship.

As Leaf fans may recall, Quinn took ill during the 2002 Stanley Cup semifinals between Toronto and Carolina. I’ll never forget staring at him with grave concern while the Leafs skated at a practice rink on the outskirts of Raleigh. Big Pat, having suffered an irregular heartbeat that landed him in a local hospital, sat on a table; his face a sickly greenish–gray. For a moment, I honestly thought he was dying. While smoking cigars and devouring steaks and heavy food on the road, Quinn had ballooned to an unhealthy weight. He missed several games of that Carolina series; assistant Rick Ley manning his spot behind the bench. The Hurricanes eliminated the Maple Leafs in overtime of Game 6 at Air Canada Centre and went on to a five–game defeat against Detroit in the Stanley Cup final.

During the summer of 2002, Quinn heeded medical advice. He quit the cigars and lost abundant weight. He also grieved the death of his father, John. Pat arrived at training camp in September looking fit and tanned; the polar opposite of his morose appearance in the playoffs. During a pre–season game at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Quinn sat up in the press box, assigning Ley to the bench. The media hold at Copps was comprised of multiple rooms with separate doors. A pathway in back of the rooms ran the length of the press box. While strolling along the pathway during an intermission, I unexpectedly noticed Quinn sitting alone in the Maple Leafs private box.

I walked in and sat down beside the coach. “Pat, you look fantastic,” I said. “What an incredible difference from the spring. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to offer you condolences on the death of your father.”

“Thank you, Howard, I appreciate that,” he replied.

“You know, Pat, I haven’t been at all proud of our relationship these past four years. In fact, I’ve disliked almost every moment. If it’s okay with you, how ’bout we shake hands, forget all that baloney and start fresh?”

The Irishman stuck out his big paw and said, “put ‘er there.”

We never had another sore moment between us.

ABOUT THOSE BOUND TREASURES…

I took many of my oldest and most–coveted hockey publications to a bookbindery in the late–1980’s. They rest on two large shelves in my condo. Here are examples of the items contained in these now–legendary books:

The oldest item in my collection. From a 2–1 victory by the Leafs over the New York Rangers on Feb. 11, 1933. Maple Leaf Gardens had opened just 15 months earlier. The Leafs were the defending Stanley Cup champions.

This book contains issues of HOCKEY WORLD magazine from the early expansion era in the NHL. The March 1968 edition (above) featured goalies from the inaugural Philadelphia Flyers team of 1967–68. Coincidentally, Bernie Parent and Doug Favell were born two days apart in April 1945. Both later toiled for the Leafs.

All issues of HOCKEY PICTORIAL magazine from the expansion season of 1967–68. On the cover was a photo from the first meeting of the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins: Oct. 14, 1967 at the St. Louis Arena.

Bound issues (above) of HOCKEY ILLUSTRATED magazine from 1968–69 and 1969–70. The March 1969 edition featured an image of Bobby Orr from his rookie season with the Boston Bruins. Orr was in the press box at Maple Leaf Gardens one night in the late–80’s and he signed the magazine. HOCKEY ILLUSTRATED, as you may recall, was the periodical that contained a four–page centerspread (below) of color photographs.

 

Published in mid–season each year by The Hockey News was the NATIONAL HOCKEY ANNUAL, with photos and biographies of all players in the NHL. In this book, I have each edition of the ANNUAL from 1964 to 1976.

PROGRAMS FROM MAPLE LEAF GARDENS…

These items encompass seven of the books in my collection. Dating from 1933 to 1968:

A rare program from a game between the Maple Leafs and New York Americans, a team in the NHL from 1925 to 1942. It was Toronto’s final home game of the 1939–40 season and the Leafs prevailed, 8–6.

The great Teeder Kennedy graced the program from Game 2 of the 1948 Stanley Cup final, a 4–2 victory by the home side (on Apr. 10). Toronto breezed to a four–game sweep of Detroit to win its second of three straight titles.

The Big M had the program cover on Apr. 11, 1967 for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinals against Chicago. The Leafs would defeat the Black Hawks, 3–1, to take a 2–1 lead in the series. Toronto upset Chicago in six.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM