Larry Quinn (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Larry Quinn is an American ice hockey executive and businessman, best known for his involvement with the Buffalo Sabres
of the NHL
. Quinn has had two stints in the Sabres organization, the first in the 1990s as team president, and the second in the mid-to-late 2000s as managing partner
, minority owner, and de facto president.
Quinn first joined the team as President in the 1990s and was responsible for hiring current head coach Lindy Ruff
and general manager Darcy Regier
in 1997, after he had fired then-GM John Muckler
and allowed coach Ted Nolan
to leave after the end of his contract. He assisted then-owners Northrup R. Knox
and Seymour H. Knox III in securing the construction of what is now HSBC Arena
and the abandonment of Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
. Quinn was fired in 1998 as John Rigas took over the franchise.
After the Adelphia Communications scandal led to the league taking over the team, Quinn associated himself with the prospective ownership group led by Tom Golisano
, initially serving as a consultant. When investor Hormoz Mansouri left the ownership group, Quinn stepped in and was rewarded with a minority stake in the franchise. He was named managing partner, serving as Golisano's personal representative in Buffalo--essentially earning his old job back as head of the franchise. He left the franchise, as well as the city of Buffalo, when Terrence Pegula
purchased and took over the team in 2011, being replaced by Ted Black.
A real estate developer by trade, Quinn served as vice chairman of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation. He was a significant advocate of the proposed, but ultimately unsuccessful, bid to bring a Bass Pro Shops
supercenter to downtown Buffalo. Quinn left the ECHDC upon leaving the Sabres organization in 2011.
Larry's son, Matt Quinn, is a television producer who works on political campaigns.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Quinn has had two stints in the Sabres organization, the first in the 1990s as team president, and the second in the mid-to-late 2000s as managing partner
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
, minority owner, and de facto president.
Quinn first joined the team as President in the 1990s and was responsible for hiring current head coach Lindy Ruff
Lindy Ruff
Lindy Cameron Ruff is the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Ruff played in the NHL for the Sabres and New York Rangers as a left winger/defenceman. Currently, he is the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL.-Playing career:Ruff was chosen in the second round, 32nd...
and general manager Darcy Regier
Darcy Regier
Darcy John Regier is the current general manager of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He also played 26 games in the NHL for the Cleveland Barons and New York Islanders as a defenceman...
in 1997, after he had fired then-GM John Muckler
John Muckler
John Muckler is a professional hockey coach and executive, most recently serving as the general manager of the Ottawa Senators of the NHL. Muckler has over 50 years of professional hockey experience as a part owner, general manager, director of player personnel, director of hockey operations, head...
and allowed coach Ted Nolan
Ted Nolan
Theodore John Nolan is currently the Head Coach of Latvia men's national ice hockey team...
to leave after the end of his contract. He assisted then-owners Northrup R. Knox
Northrup R. Knox
Northrup Rand Knox , was a Buffalo banker, sportsman, and community leader who, along with his brother Seymour, brought the National Hockey League franchise the Buffalo Sabres to Buffalo, New York. Knox is the third generation of the Knox family to serve as chairman of Marine Midland Bank and its...
and Seymour H. Knox III in securing the construction of what is now HSBC Arena
HSBC Arena
The First Niagara Center, formerly known as HSBC Arena and Marine Midland Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in downtown Buffalo, New York, USA...
and the abandonment of Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was an indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, New York. It hosted the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL, the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, the Buffalo Braves of the NBA, the Buffalo Stallions of MSL, the Buffalo Bandits of MILL, the Buffalo Blizzard of the second NPSL and the Buffalo...
. Quinn was fired in 1998 as John Rigas took over the franchise.
After the Adelphia Communications scandal led to the league taking over the team, Quinn associated himself with the prospective ownership group led by Tom Golisano
Tom Golisano
Blase Thomas Golisano is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Paychex, the second-largest payroll processor in the United States and former co-owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team...
, initially serving as a consultant. When investor Hormoz Mansouri left the ownership group, Quinn stepped in and was rewarded with a minority stake in the franchise. He was named managing partner, serving as Golisano's personal representative in Buffalo--essentially earning his old job back as head of the franchise. He left the franchise, as well as the city of Buffalo, when Terrence Pegula
Terrence Pegula
Terrence M. "Terry" Pegula is an American businessman. Pegula founded East Resources, a natural gas drilling company, before selling the company to Royal Dutch Shell for approximately $4.7 billion....
purchased and took over the team in 2011, being replaced by Ted Black.
A real estate developer by trade, Quinn served as vice chairman of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation. He was a significant advocate of the proposed, but ultimately unsuccessful, bid to bring a Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L...
supercenter to downtown Buffalo. Quinn left the ECHDC upon leaving the Sabres organization in 2011.
Larry's son, Matt Quinn, is a television producer who works on political campaigns.
External links
- O'Shei, Tim. Quinntescence. Buffalo Business First. 24 September 2007.
- Official Buffalo Sabres website bio