Sean Burke

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameSean M.•Burke
Used nameSean•Burke
Nick/petnamesBig Bird
Born29 January 1967 in Windsor, Ontario (CAN)
Measurements192 cm / 95 kg
AffiliationsNew Jersey Devils, Newark (USA)
NOC Canada
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Ice hockey goaltender Sean Burke was considered a talented goalie who was rarely given the opportunity to play to his fullest. He had a short career in Toronto, playing with the St. Michael’s Buzzers of the Metro Toronto Junior Hockey League (1983-1984) and the Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League (1984-1986) prior to suiting up with the Canadian men’s national ice hockey team in 1985 and, aside from a break during the 1989-1990 season, he stuck with them continuously until 1992. With the team he won silver medals at the 1986 World Junior Championships, 1989 and 1991 World Championships, and 1992 Winter Olympics, playing in seven matches at the latter tournament. He also minded the net for four games at the 1988 Winter Olympics, where Canada placed fourth. He was scouted by the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League in 1985, but did not play any games with them until the 1987-1988 season where he played seventeen, or nearly half his lifetime total, of NHL playoff matches.

Burke continued to suit up with the Devils until 1991 when a contract dispute caused him to return to the Canadian national team full time, although he did play seven games with the San Diego Gulls of the International Hockey League in 1992. It was that year that he was picked up by the NHL’s Hartford Whalers for five seasons and, during his final season with them, he also attended the 1997 World Championships with the Canadian team and took home a gold medal. He stuck with the Whalers when they became the Carolina Hurricanes that year, but was soon traded away and spent the next season between the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers. From 1998 through 2004 he skated with the Florida Panthers (1998-1999), Phoenix Coyotes (1999-2004), and Philadelphia Flyers (2004), in addition to capturing another gold medal at the 2003 World Championships. Until his official 2007 retirement he suited up sporadically with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning (2005-2006) and Los Angeles Kings (2006-2007), as well as the American Hockey League’s Springfield Falcons (2006-2007). Since 2008 he has been Director of Prospect Development with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) CAN Sean Burke
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Canada 4
1992 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) CAN Sean Burke
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Canada 2 Silver

Special Notes