Leafs: A Nation Mourns

Let’s belay the celebrations inspired by the gutsy moves made last week, for a moment. Like they did at the ACC last Saturday, to honour the memory of a kid called Brendan Burke…

Leaf Nation’s spiritual leader, the man most responsible for the massive changes in recent times, has gone home to bury his son Brendan, a courageous, charismatic and obviously intelligent young hockey man in his own right, who recently announced to the world, with the unflinching support of his father, that he was gay. In a world of sport where machismo and testosterone, and the homophobic rhetoric that comes part and parcel with it run rampant, it was a gutsy move and the public admiration demonstrated by Burke was testimony to a father’s undying love.

With the recent news of the young man’s passing, the Leafs President and GM has gone home to say goodbye to his youngest son, who succumbed to injuries after a traffic accident during inclement weather.
As a Dad, your heart aches for the family and for the man who must endure this tragedy.

You get the sense that the younger Burke was on his way to becoming a hockey executive of considerable talent. Regardless of his orientation, he was a well-respected, highly regarded young man, and a credit to the hockey world, and the loss to his family and community is devastating. Thoughts and prayers are with the Burke family from all of us at Crash The Crease, the entire NHL, and Leaf Nation.

What a great tribute by Burke’s team to blank the red hot Senators in a 5-0 stomping with multiple point games by a rejuvenated Phil Kessel, sophomore Luke Schenn , and newly anointed top line pivot Tyler Bozak.

Dion Phaneuf collected his first assist with the Leafs, and Colton Orr was the undisputed winner in round three of the grudge match versus Matt Carkner.

Earlier in the week J.S. Giguere became only the second Leaf goalie to debut with the Buds by posting a shutout. By week’s end, he became the only one to ever put up consecutive donuts in his first two starts in Hogtown. If Giguere’s patient, zero-panic play continues, the team in front may just continue to get him the goal support to punch through the bottom five spots in the standings, and, who knows- maybe a miracle on ice could even happen right here in Toronto this season. Maybe there is enough goaltending and new-found swagger to put up a fight for that final spot…

Called into active service tonight are Viktor Stalberg and (sorta) tough-guy Andre Deveaux, with rumours abounding that there’s a touch of tummy trouble going around the room, as well as whispers of a Poni-to Pittsburgh deal which is said to be bottlenecking negotiations between Edmonton and Pittsburgh at the present.

Leafs will try to extend the ‘streak’ to two games tonight VS the Sharks. Jiggy’s advice: “stay oout of the penalty box”. That PP of theirs is downright lethal, and coming from the goalie who may have seen more of them than just about anyone else in the last nine years, it sounds like good advice…

Mr. Burke, you’re part of our hockey family, and your loss is our loss. May the support and strength of those around you help you to bear the sadness.

The Burke family requests your grateful gifts in Brendan Burke’s name go to:
Xaverian Leadership Institute.
Xaverian Brothers High.School.
800 Clapboardtree St,Westwood,Ma 02090

Rest in peace Brendan Burke.