Image: The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds celebrate their championship at the Pat Quinn Classic minor hockey tournament in Burnaby. / Supplied

By Fraser Valley Today Staff

Minor Hockey

Abbotsford squads win their divisions at Pat Quinn Classic minor hockey tournament

Jan 3, 2025 | 4:16 PM

BURNABY — A pair of Abbotsford-based minor hockey clubs came away with the top prize at the Pat Quinn Classic tournament in Burnaby.

The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds knocked off another Abbotsford-based squad, the Yale Lions, 3–2 in a shootout in the Under 17 Division.

“It was fantastic,” said Ralph Vos, head coach of the Thunderbirds. “The boys went all out today. It was a really close battle as it went to a shootout.”

Centre Nathaniel Esmail agreed with his coach after the game. “It was a battle from the start. It’s quite the rivalry between our two teams,” said Esmail.

Meanwhile, Yale won the Under-15 Division as the Lions defeated the Burnaby Winter Club Academy 4–2 in the championship game.

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It’s the second consecutive win in the Under-15 Division for the Yale Hockey Academy. “It was awesome. I love the experience,” said forward Jacob White.

The annual tournament which ran from December 27 to December 31, brought together 49 teams in seven divisions for boys’ and girls’ teams. The tournament has been hosted by the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association since 1962. It was renamed the Pat Quinn Classic in 2015 to honour the legendary hockey figure.