February 6, 2010, 1:30 am
Son of U.S. Hockey Team’s G.M. Dies
By MELISSA HOPPERT
The youngest son of Brian Burke, the general manager of the United States ice hockey team and of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has died in a car crash.
The Maple Leafs said the 21-year-old Brendan Burke, who publicly revealed he was gay in an ESPN.com article in November, was fatally injured in an accident Friday in Indiana.
“The family asks for privacy at this difficult time,” the team said in a statement.
Brian Burke’s United States team opens play against Switzerland on Feb. 16 in Vancouver. On Thursday, he spoke about looking forward to marching in the opening ceremony.
“This is my only way to give back for all that hockey has done for me and what all that U.S.A. Hockey did,” he said during a conference call. “Starting from when I was 13, there was always a coach to show me what to do or tell me how to get there. The rest was up to me to work hard and get there. I got as far as the American League and that’s all because of these people that cared.”
The Toronto Star reported that Brendan Burke was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee when the vehicle slid sideways into the path of a Ford truck. The police said the roads in Wayne County were treacherous because of heavy snow. Burke’s 18-year-old friend Mark Reedy was also killed.
“The National Hockey League grieves tonight for the family and friends of Brendan Burke, a young man of courage and character,” N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement. “Words simply cannot express our sorrow over his loss. We send our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Brendan’s father, Brian; his mother, Kerry; everyone in Brendan’s family and all who were inspired by his love for hockey.”
Burke, a goaltender, grew up playing hockey in the Boston area. He was a student manager for the Miami of Ohio team. He told his father he was gay during Christmas 2007, and later told Miami Coach Enrico Blasi and the rest of the team, who expressed their support.
“I had a million good reasons to love and admire Brendan,” Brian Burke told ESPN.com. “This news didn’t alter any of them.”
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