Darrell Davis: Pat Quinn, an honourable inductee

Pat Quinn proved he was a Hall of Famer through his lifetime in hockey, but he also showed his humanity in May of 2001, when he attended the funeral of Larry Hornung.

At the time, Quinn was head coach and general manager of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Hornung, a long-time player and father of former Regina Pats centre Brad Hornung, worked for the Maple Leafs as a scout.

Larry was also one of hockey’s really good guys. He died one day after the Leafs were eliminated from the 2001 NHL playoffs in a seven-game series against the New Jersey Devils. A couple days later, at a church in Regina, Pat Quinn was there to pay respects at Larry’s funeral, showing that his professional disappointment was less important than honouring his friend and a loyal employee.

Quinn, posthumously, was one of four inductees last weekend into the Hockey Hall of Fame.