The National Hockey League Mourns The Passing Of Coach Pat Burns

Added on Nov 20, 2010 by J Merrill in

NHL

A sad day in the NHL for certain. The Hockey World is in mourning over the death of Former Coach Pat Burns. After a long series of battles with cancer Pat Burn died Friday in Sherbrooke, Que. Burns was named NHL coach of the year with the Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Boston Bruins and later won a Stanley Cup in 2003 with the New Jersey Devils before he was forced to step down due to his illness. In 1,019 career games, he amassed a 501-353-165 record.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “Just as they will remember Pat for his success as a coach, hockey fans also will remember his humor, his honesty, his humanity and his courage. As it mourns the loss of an outstanding contributor to the game, the National Hockey League sends heartfelt condolences to Pat’s family and friends.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs offered their condolences. There was also a message from senior advisor Cliff Fletcher, who was general manager when Burns was hired away from the Canadiens.

“He commanded respect from the players and the team quickly had great success while taking on the identity of the head coach,” said Fletcher. ”The Leafs’ rise at the time was a testament to Pat’s strength, toughness and determination.

“Hiring him 18 years ago was easily my best decision in hockey and we developed a great friendship that I will always treasure.”

The Bruins issued a statement that said: “Pat was a great coach and more importantly a wonderful man. The Bruins are honored to have him as part of our history.”

Former Canadiens general manager Serge Savard told RDS television that Burns was the perfect antidote to Jean Perron who brought him up from their Sherbrooke farm club for his first NHL coaching job in 1988-89. He won his first Jack Adams Trophy that season.

“It was a matter of time before we brought him to Montreal,” said Savard. “I liked Jean Perron, but at the time we needed a coach that was tougher and that was Pat. He was a hard worker and he had the respect of the players.”

Jacques Demers, who replaced Burns as coach of the Montreal Canadiens in 1992 and later became his friend. He is now a member of the Senate. “He was a confrère, we stick together, we competed against each other, we yell at each other, but when someone dies in the coaching fraternity, it’s a sad day…Just as they will remember Pat for his success as a coach, hockey fans also will remember his humor, his honesty, his humanity and his courage. As it mourns the loss of an outstanding contributor to the game, the National Hockey League sends heartfelt condolences to Pat’s family and friends.

Demers continued, “Pat Burns should have been in the Hall of fame this year, Not because he was dying, but because he was a Hall of Fame coach. Five hundred wins, a Stanley Cup, three times coach of the year — to me it would have been so special for him, before he died, to be in the Hall of fame. We got the arena for him but I don’t know why that didn’t happen.”

I expect to see tributes to spring up all over the NHL as Pat Burns has touched many lives in the National Hockey League.