| Sean Burke | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Burke with theSpringfield Falcons in 2006 | |||
| Born | (1967-01-29)January 29, 1967 (age 58) Windsor, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | New Jersey Devils Hartford Whalers Carolina Hurricanes Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers Florida Panthers Phoenix Coyotes Tampa Bay Lightning Los Angeles Kings | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 24th overall,1985 New Jersey Devils | ||
| Playing career | 1988–2007 | ||
Sean Burke (born January 29, 1967) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeygoaltender and the current director of goaltending for theVegas Golden Knights, with whom he won theStanley Cup with in2023. He played 18 seasons in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theNew Jersey Devils,Hartford Whalers,Carolina Hurricanes,Vancouver Canucks,Philadelphia Flyers,Florida Panthers,Phoenix Coyotes,Tampa Bay Lightning andLos Angeles Kings between 1988 and 2007. He was born inWindsor, Ontario, but grew up inToronto,Ontario.
As a youth, Burke played in the 1980Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the St. Michael'sminor ice hockey team fromToronto.[1]
Burke attended St. Michael's college high school and played junior B hockey for the St.Michael's Buzzers in the 1983-84 season. He was taken in the 3rd round of the OHL draft by the Toronto Marlboros where he would play for the next two seasons.
Burke was drafted by theNew Jersey Devils in the second round of the1985 NHL Entry Draft. He earned national attention from his international play, backstopping theCanada men's national junior ice hockey team to a silver medal in the1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and a fourth-place finish for themen's national team at the1988 Winter Olympics inCalgary.
Burke transitioned directly from Canada's Olympics national team to the Devils. He started 11 games for the Devils in the1987–88 season, including an overtime victory against theChicago Blackhawks on the final night of the season that qualified the Devils for their firstStanley Cup playoff series.
Dubbed a "rookie sensation", Burke helped the Devils go on a strong playoff run, defeating the division-leaderNew York Islanders in the first round in six games and then theWashington Capitals in seven games. The Devils were one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in Game 7 of the Wales Conference Finals to theBoston Bruins. Burke's play was widely heralded, withThe Hockey Digest stating, "Burke is now the franchise for the Devils, and to whatever heights he rises, the Devils will rise with him," and in December 1988, Burke became the first Devil to appear on its cover.[2]
Because he played just 11 games in the 1987–88 regular season, Burke maintained his rookie status for the1988–89 season. That season, he was named to the1989 All-Star Game.
Burke played for the Devils through the1990–91 season, then sat out the1991–92 season requesting a trade. Instead, he joined coach Dave King and played for the Canadian national team in theWinter Olympics for a second time, backstopping Canada to a silver medal. Teammates on the 1992 Olympic team included future NHL players Eric Lindros and Joe Juneau.
On August 28, 1992, Burke was traded to theHartford Whalers in exchange forBobby Holík, a second-round pick in the1993 NHL Entry Draft (used to selectJay Pandolfo) and future considerations.[3] He played there (and with the relocated Whalers team, theCarolina Hurricanes) for six seasons. He was voted Whalers' team MVP from 1993 to 1997. Burke then played with several teams, including thePhiladelphia Flyers,Vancouver Canucks andFlorida Panthers. He subsequently signed with thePhoenix Coyotes and played there for five seasons, where he was a finalist for theVezina Trophy and third finalist for theHart Memorial Trophy in the2001–02 season.[4]
Burke was selected to represent the Arizona Coyotes in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 NHL All Star games.
After that, Burke played for the Philadelphia Flyers (for the second time) recording his300th career NHL win (the 20th goaltender to reach this milestone), and theTampa Bay Lightning. Burke was placed on waivers by Tampa Bay before the2006–07 season but was not picked up. He then played for Tampa Bay'sAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, theSpringfield Falcons. Burke was placed on waivers by the Lightning and picked up off re-entry waivers by theLos Angeles Kings.
Burke announced his retirement from professional hockey on September 18, 2007.[5]Burke currently sits #15 on the list of all time games played for NHL goaltenders (820) #30 all time wins (324) #50 all time shutouts (38) and #5 all time penalty minutes for goaltenders (310)
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| RepresentingCanada | ||
| Canada Cup | ||
 | 1991 Canada | |
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 1992 Albertville | |
| World Championship | ||
| 1997 Finland | |
| 2003 Finland | |
| World Junior Championship | ||
| 1986 Canada | |
Burke played in 11 games for the Canadian national team in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics.[6] He served as the back-up goaltender in the1991 Canada Cup and has also played in 130 games for other Canadian national teams from 1985 through 2003.[7]
The 130 games that Burke has played for Team Canada represent the most games any goaltender has played Internationally for Canada
In 2020, Burke was named into theIIHF All-Time Canada Team along with Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby.
On March 4, 2008, the Phoenix Coyotes hired Burke to become its director of prospect development.[8] He was also the assistant to the general manager and Coyotes' goaltending coach.[9]
In 2015 Burke was part of the management group along with General Manager Jim Nill, George McPhee and Pat Verbeek that led Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF World Championships. Canada went undefeated in the tournament held in Prague, Czech Republic beating Russia 6 to 1 in the gold medal game.
In 2016 Burke joined General Managers Brad Treliving and George McPhee as part of the management group for the IIHF World Championships in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia. Canada won the gold medal defeating Finland 2 to 0 in the final game.
In 2017 Burke co managed Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships along with Ron Hextall in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France. Canada took home the silver medal after being defeated 2 to 1 in a shootout by Sweden.
Burke was the General Manager for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019 taking home gold medals. In 2018 he managed the team along with Ron Francis taking home the silver medal.
In September 2016, Burke joined theMontreal Canadiens as a professional scout.[10] He also spent the 2020-21 season as the full time goaltending coach with the Canadiens as the team made it to the Stanley Cup finals losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 5 games. On July 25, 2017, he was announced as the general manager ofCanada's men's team for the2018 Winter Olympics inPyeongchang.[11]where Team Canada went on to win the bronze medal. That same season he co managed the IIHF World Championships with Martin Brodeur and Scott Salmond held in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark.
In March 2021, Burke was appointed as the director of goaltending for the Montreal Canadiens.
On June 25, 2022, Burke was appointed as director of goaltending for the Vegas Golden Knights.[12] Even with theGolden Knights losing theirprevious season's starting goaltenderRobin Lehner for the entire season due to injury and off-season surgery, and rotating through a total of five other goaltenders due to various injuries (by numbers of regular season games started,Logan Thompson,Adin Hill,Laurent Brossoit,Jonathan Quick, andJiří Patera), Burke was able to help coach the Golden Knights to theStanley Cup in2023 (Burke's first Stanley Cup win).
Burke is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federations Players Committee where he has served on the committee since 2016.
Burke and his wife Christy have one son together. Burke has two children from a previous marriage.[citation needed]
On November 2, 1997, Burke and his then-wife were both charged withassault following an alleged altercation at their home.[13][14] Despite the incident, theCarolina Hurricanes chose not to suspend Burke.[15] In January 1998, Burke was fined $200, sentenced to 18 months probation, and required to complete an educational program ondomestic violence after pleading guilty to the assault charge.[16][17]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1983–84 | St. Michael's Buzzers | MetJHL | 25 | — | — | — | — | 1482 | 120 | 0 | 4.86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Toronto Marlboros | OHL | 49 | 25 | 21 | 3 | — | 2987 | 211 | 0 | 4.24 | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 266 | 25 | 0 | 5.64 | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Toronto Marlboros | OHL | 47 | 16 | 27 | 3 | — | 2840 | 233 | 0 | 4.92 | .862 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 238 | 24 | 0 | 6.05 | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Canada | Intl. | 42 | 27 | 13 | 2 | — | 2550 | 130 | 0 | 3.05 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Canada | Intl. | 37 | 19 | 9 | 2 | — | 1962 | 92 | 1 | 2.81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | 688 | 35 | 1 | 3.05 | .883 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 999 | 57 | 1 | 3.42 | .889 | ||
| 1988–89 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 62 | 22 | 31 | 9 | — | 3590 | 230 | 3 | 3.84 | .873 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 52 | 22 | 22 | 6 | — | 2914 | 175 | 0 | 3.60 | .880 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 125 | 8 | 0 | 3.84 | .860 | ||
| 1990–91 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 35 | 8 | 12 | 8 | — | 1870 | 112 | 0 | 3.59 | .872 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Canada | Intl. | 31 | 18 | 6 | 4 | — | 1721 | 75 | 1 | 2.61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | San Diego Gulls | IHL | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 424 | 17 | 0 | 2.41 | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 160 | 13 | 0 | 4.88 | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 50 | 16 | 27 | 3 | — | 2656 | 184 | 0 | 4.16 | .876 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 47 | 17 | 24 | 5 | — | 2750 | 137 | 2 | 2.99 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 42 | 17 | 19 | 4 | — | 2418 | 108 | 0 | 2.68 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 66 | 28 | 28 | 6 | — | 3669 | 190 | 4 | 3.11 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 51 | 22 | 22 | 6 | — | 2985 | 134 | 4 | 2.69 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 25 | 7 | 11 | 5 | — | 1415 | 66 | 1 | 2.80 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 16 | 2 | 9 | 4 | — | 838 | 49 | 0 | 3.51 | .876 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 632 | 27 | 1 | 2.56 | .913 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 283 | 17 | 0 | 3.60 | .860 | ||
| 1998–99 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 59 | 21 | 24 | 14 | — | 3402 | 151 | 3 | 2.66 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 418 | 18 | 0 | 2.58 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 35 | 17 | 14 | 3 | — | 2074 | 88 | 3 | 2.55 | .914 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 296 | 16 | 0 | 3.24 | .904 | ||
| 2000–01 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 62 | 25 | 22 | 13 | — | 3644 | 138 | 4 | 2.27 | .922 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 60 | 33 | 21 | 6 | — | 3587 | 137 | 5 | 2.29 | .920 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 297 | 13 | 0 | 2.63 | .902 | ||
| 2002–03 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 22 | 12 | 6 | 2 | — | 1248 | 44 | 2 | 2.11 | .930 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 32 | 10 | 15 | 5 | — | 1795 | 84 | 1 | 2.81 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 15 | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | 825 | 35 | 1 | 2.55 | .910 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 1.50 | .889 | ||
| 2005–06 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 35 | 14 | 10 | — | 4 | 1713 | 80 | 2 | 2.80 | .895 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 7 | 0 | 3.85 | .877 | ||
| 2006–07 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 7 | 2 | 5 | — | 0 | 345 | 26 | 0 | 4.52 | .856 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 23 | 6 | 10 | — | 5 | 1310 | 68 | 1 | 3.11 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 820 | 324 | 341 | 101 | 9 | 46,440 | 2,290 | 38 | 2.96 | .902 | 38 | 12 | 23 | 2,149 | 119 | 1 | 3.32 | .888 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Canada | WJC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 | — | |
| 1987 | Canada | WC | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 300 | 12 | 0 | 2.40 | — | |
| 1988 | Canada | OLY | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 238 | 12 | 0 | 3.02 | — | |
| 1989 | Canada | WC | 5 | — | — | — | 275 | 10 | 1 | 2.18 | — | |
| 1991 | Canada | WC | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 479 | 21 | 0 | 2.63 | — | |
| 1992 | Canada | OLY | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 429 | 17 | 0 | 2.37 | — | |
| 1997 | Canada | WC | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 608 | 22 | 3 | 2.17 | .924 | |
| 2003 | Canada | WC | 6 | — | — | — | 329 | 7 | 1 | 1.28 | .955 | |
| Junior totals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 | — | |||
| Senior totals | 46 | — | — | — | 2658 | 101 | 5 | 2.28 | — | |||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| NHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 1989,2001,2002 | |
| Stanley Cup | 2023 (as coach) | |
| International | ||
| WC All-Star Team | 1991, 2003 | |
| Best Goaltender | 2003 | |
| IIHF All-Canada Team | 2020 | |
The 50-year-old former goaltender joined the Canadiens in September 2016 as a professional scout for the western region.