Brian Burke’s fourth trip to Prince George was certainly his most memorable.
The 69-year-old longtime professional hockey executive delved into no shortage of topics during a hot stove session during the 10th annual UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night at the PG Conference and Civic Centre on Thursday, to which he was the keynote speaker.
The 10th Annual @UNBCATHLETICS Legacy Night was unforgettable!
Keynote Speaker Brian Burke inspired with his stories, and incredible community support raised vital funds for scholarships, empowering student-athletes and strengthening northern communities. #ThisIsUNBC pic.twitter.com/H87bboMxvY
— University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) (@UNBC) November 22, 2024
Burke’s time in the NHL has seen its fair share of highs from winning the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-2007 to drafting Daniel and Henrik Sedin back-to-back in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft with the Vancouver Canucks as well as the Russian Rocket Pavel Bure a decade earlier (1989).
Unlike most kids who pick up a hockey stick and skates well under the age of five, Burke’s involvement in hockey didn’t begin until he was 13 years old shortly after moving to Minnesota from Rhode Island.
Burke spent two years playing for Edina High School, before suiting up for four seasons at Providence College in the NCAA where he would be coached by Lou Lamoriello – the same guy who built the New Jersey Devils into perennial Stanley Cup contenders climbing the top of the mountain on three occasions in 1995, 2000 and 2003.
It was Lamoriello’s influence that helped Burke get into Harvard Law School.
“I met Lou when I was 17 and I played for him for four years and is still a friend and huge influence. The guy taught me so much and I owe him so much,” added Burke.
The pinnacle of Burke’s playing days came in 1977-78 as a member of the Maine Mariners, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Burke and his Mariner teammates claimed the league title that season – the subsequent fall saw him put an end to playing and into Harvard Law School.
After graduating in 1981, he became a player agent for six years.
In 1987, Burke’s career as a hockey executive received its first big break where he was hired by Pat Quinn to serve as the Director of Hockey Operations of the Vancouver Canucks, his first of two separate stints with the organization.
The other was as general manager spanning from 1999-2004 where re-vamped the Canucks into an exciting playoff contender, that included the Sedin twins, Brendan Morrison, Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Mathias Ohlund among others.
When looking back at his career, Burke speaks fondly of his time in BC.
“I had two great runs here. The first one was under Pat and the second one was under the McCaw’s – John bought the team and I had two great runs here. We had an empty building, filled up and had good playoff runs – it was great, and I still consider this a very important part of my life.”
Sandwiched in between his two tenures in Vancouver, Burke spent one season at the helm of the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes) where he drafted Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger with the second-overall pick in 1993.
From there, Burke spent six years at the NHL’s league office working alongside commissioner Gary Bettman where he played the role of Director of Hockey Operations, where he would be the chief disciplinarian.
While hockey fans in general, especially those in Canada are often critical of Bettman’s approach, mainly seeing the expansion of what are often see as non-traditional markets south of the border – Burke can’t understand why the league’s front office figure is so vilified given his three-decade-long run.
“He does get a rough ride, and I don’t know why. He is brilliant and the best thing to ever happen in the NHL was Gary Bettman – he is awesome, and I don’t understand it frankly.”
“What hasn’t he done? He has grown franchise values, he has expanded and done a lot of charity work and disaster relief. The guy is amazing, I love him.”
Burke also speaks fondly of Prince George native and two-time Stanley Cup Champion head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Following a similar path to Burke, Cooper started out as a lawyer himself before getting bitten by the coaching bug, where he enjoyed a rapid ascension through the ranks.
“I’ve known Coop for years. I had tried to recruit him because he is a dual (citizen) I tried to recruit him into USA Hockey before he went with Hockey Canada, and I wasn’t successful. I was trying to poach him – he is a great guy, great coach and Prince George and great for the game.”
“I first met him when he was coaching in Syracuse of the American Hockey League when I was running the Leafs, and they were playing the Marlies. The first time I met him I was instantly impressed with this guy. He is a huge talent as a coach and a great guy.”
Burke is a strong supporter of gay rights and attended the 2009 Toronto Pride Parade while he was General Manager of the Maple Leafs. His late son Brendan was gay and tragically passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident in Indiana during February of 2010.
Two years later, Brian and his other son Patrick launched the You Can Play Project, which is targeting at ending homophobia in sports.
Burke believes it is only a matter of time before a current NHL player comes out.
“I would have hoped that it’d happen by now but certainly in the next year or two it is still likely. But when it happens, when a player is ready for that it will be a good day.”
Three years ago, Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop became the first player that was under contract to an NHL team to announce he was gay.
Prokop played in the Western Hockey League for the Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings and Seattle Thunderbirds.
Prokop was a part of back-to-back league championships with the Oil Kings and Thunderbirds earning the right to play in the Memorial Cup for two consecutive years.
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, Burke held front office stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-2013), Calgary Flames (2013-19) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2020-2023).
Currently, Burke serves as the Executive Director of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association.
He admits his view on women’s hockey changed during the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
“I, like many American players didn’t pay attention to the women. I didn’t follow it closely at all and once I started to realize how exciting it was and how great athletes, they were I was hooked.”
“The great thing about the PWHL is that it grows the entire industry from scouting and management staffs to referees, linesmen and administration. It grows everyone and an industry that grows not just the team.”
In October, PG’s Grace Barlow was one of three referees elevated to the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
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