Takin' a T/O with BT: 'Making the Connection' with Pat Quinn

Ask anyone in Toronto and they'll remember Pat Quinn.

Whether it was for drastically improving the beleaguered Leafs and taking them to two Conference Finals appearances, his trademark wad of gum behind the bench, his fiery Irish attitude, or how he took on both the GM's and Head Coach's role in T.O., someone has a story—enjoyable or otherwise (The otherwise usually revolving around a trade he made)—about Pat Quinn.

If you're a Bruins fan, you remember him as the man who tried to knock Bobby Orr's block off with his elbow in the '69 Cup Finals, but that's another story.

But what some people may not have known about Quinn, was that his health caught up to him in 2002 during a Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup run, forcing him to step down from the bench for a period of time.

I was recently granted the opportunity—much in part to Zander Freund—to sit down with the man of 657 career NHL victories behind the bench to talk about his health, his new movement (called Making the Connection) to help people become more aware of the dangers of high cholesterol, and a little bit of hockey.

Bryan Thiel: Pat I'd really like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk with you.

Now, back in 2002 during one of the Maple Leafs' more notable playoff runs, you were hospitalized with heart arrhythmia. How did that scare affect your mentality about living a healthy lifestyle, and what changes did you make to the way you lived your life?

Pat Quinn: That incident scared me a lot and that's why I am so adament that Canadians take the first steps towards Cardiovascular health. I thought I was invincible, that I could eat and drink and take in calories the same way after I finished playing. In 2002 I really think that Leaf team had a chance to win a cup and my problems were a distraction because I just wasn't taking care of myself.

After that scare I quit smoking cigars, and really began to watch my weight and walked everyday which is something I continue to do now. I als got regular checks on my cholesterol levels and now that is something I watch very carefully. I feel better! www.makingtheconnection.ca can be the first step for a lot of people to begin taking better care of their hearts.

BT: On the 'Making the Connection' website, one of the key features that's presented to the public is the ability to register with the site, and receive a "Personalized Five-Step Plan". Could you explain the plan a bit and highlight some of the lifestyle changes it may center on?

PQ: The highlight for me was getting my "cardiovascular age". I am 65 but my heart is 58, and that shows that I've turned things around by doing the things I already mentioned.

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