Brendan Burke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brendan Burke
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Burke in 2007, standing next to the Stanley Cup after it was won by the Anaheim Ducks, managed by his father Brian Burke
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| Born | December 8, 1988 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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| Died | February 5, 2010 (aged 21) |
| Alma mater | Xaverian Brothers High School Miami University |
| Occupation | Hockey management Hockey goalie |
| Employer | Miami University |
| Known for | LGBT activism |
| Parent(s) | Brian Burke, Kerry G. Burke |
Brendan Gilmore Burke (December 8, 1988 – February 5, 2010) was a talented student and athlete. He worked as a student manager for the RedHawks men's ice hockey team at Miami University. Brendan was the youngest son of Brian Burke, a well-known leader in the NHL and for the US Olympic hockey team.
In November 2009, Brendan shared publicly that he was gay. This made international news. He became a strong voice for tolerance and spoke out against unfair treatment in professional sports. Many sports news outlets and fans praised and supported Brendan's decision. His story started important conversations about making sports welcoming for everyone, especially in hockey. He was seen as a pioneer, helping to lead the way for acceptance in hockey. Sadly, Brendan died in a car crash on February 5, 2010. After his death, many hockey teams honored his memory. They recognized his important work in raising awareness for LGBT people in hockey. An internship was created in his name, and a documentary about his life aired on television. Brendan's death also led to the start of the You Can Play project, a campaign that works to end unfair treatment in sports.
Brendan Burke's Early Life and Education
Brendan Gilmore Burke was born on December 8, 1988, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was the youngest son of his father's first marriage. In 1997, after his parents divorced, he moved with his mother, Kerry, to Boston, Massachusetts.
During high school, Brendan played hockey as a goalie on the school team. He later decided to quit because he felt uncomfortable about his teammates possibly discovering he was gay. He told his family he wanted to quit rather than sit on the bench. He graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts.
After high school, Brendan went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He joined a fraternity there. During his second year, he shared with others that he was gay. In the summer of 2009, he worked as an intern on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Representative. He also became a student manager for the Miami University hockey team. In this role, he helped with recruiting, reviewed game videos, and worked with coaches. He eventually decided he wanted a career in hockey management.
Speaking Out for Acceptance in Sports
Brendan first shared that he was gay with his family during Christmas in 2007. He told his father, Brian Burke, who was then the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, after a hockey game. His father and the rest of his family were very supportive. However, his father and older brother, Patrick, worried about how this might affect Brendan's career in hockey. They knew there could be unfair attitudes in the hockey world. Brendan often returned to his high school to talk about his experiences. He spoke about how positive it was to have his father's support in a sports culture that sometimes wasn't accepting.
In November 2009, Brendan told one of his teammates, Pat Cannone, that he was gay. He then shared this with the rest of the Miami University hockey team, where he was also the video coordinator. His story was then shared with ESPN.com. Brendan and his father appeared on the Canadian sports channel TSN. Brendan said he hoped his story would encourage other gay athletes and people working in professional sports to feel confident enough to be themselves.
The team's coach, Enrico Blasi, and the team learned about Brendan's story after a championship game in 2009. Brendan worried the news might distract the team. He offered to step away from the story if Coach Blasi disapproved. But Coach Blasi fully supported Brendan and his story, as did the entire team.
Brendan's public story was met with great support from the press and fans. The ESPN interview received praise from the hockey world. He got hundreds of emails and letters of support from gay athletes. His father, Brian Burke, also received praise for his acceptance. Brendan became a strong advocate, speaking about fairness in hockey. He encouraged discussions about the challenges faced by gay athletes. He hoped his story would show that there are safe and supportive places for them in sports. A group called Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in Toronto began using Brendan's story to teach others. They felt his story could help many families, especially since hockey is so important in Canada.
Brendan Burke became well known in hockey after sharing his story. Coach Blasi said Brendan's presence was a "blessing" because it helped the team learn about fairness. Sportscaster James Cybulski said that the positive reaction to Brendan's story showed how important it was for him and his family to speak out. This was a big step forward for all people who might feel different. Sports writers discussed how Brendan's story opened up conversations about gay athletes in major hockey teams. They noted that some hockey players were hesitant to talk about it, perhaps due to traditional ideas about masculinity in sports. However, many believed that sports would eventually break down barriers for gay athletes, just as they did for racial barriers.
Brendan Burke's Legacy and Impact
Brendan Burke died on February 5, 2010, at the age of 21. He was in a car accident during heavy snow near Economy, Indiana. His car slid into the path of a truck, and he and his friend, Mark Reedy, who was a passenger, both died instantly.
After his death, many hockey teams held a moment of silence to honor Brendan. This included the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Miami University hockey team. The Miami team also named him the honorary first star of their game.
Brendan's funeral was held in Canton, Massachusetts. Nearly 1,000 people attended, including the entire Toronto Maple Leafs team and the Miami University Hockey Redhawks. In April 2010, USA Hockey created the "Brendan Burke Internship." This internship is given each year to a recent college graduate who wants to work in hockey operations. Brendan's high school also raised money for a statue to be placed on campus in his memory. On November 26, 2010, a documentary called "The Legacy of Brendan Burke" aired on television. It told his story and the important discussions it started about fairness in hockey.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the United States Men's Hockey Team wore dog tags that said "In Memory of Brendan Burke." In June 2010, Chicago Blackhawks president John McDonough announced that the team's Stanley Cup would be taken to the 2010 Chicago Gay Pride Parade by player Brent Sopel. Sopel honored Brendan Burke by using his day with the Stanley Cup to display it in the parade. He told the press that he wanted to honor Brendan's legacy and his father's example of family support and tolerance. On the one-year anniversary of Brendan's death, the Blackhawks wore special sweaters during their game.
Many people saw Brendan Burke as a pioneer in sports. He was described as "the closest person to the NHL ever to come out publicly and say that he is gay." An assistant coach for the RedHawks said that Brendan's story helped their team address unfair language in hockey. The New England Hockey Journal also wrote that Brendan would be remembered for bringing attention to fairness in hockey. The president of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association said that Brendan's legacy and the Stanley Cup's appearance at the parade helped their group's membership double. He said that everyone was "carrying his [Brendan Burke's] torch" by continuing the discussion about gay people in hockey.
Brendan's older brother, Patrick Burke, wrote that the Burke family promised to give their "unwavering, unremitting, relentless support" for equality in sports. Since Brendan's death, his father, Brian Burke, has continued to speak out against unfair treatment in professional sports. He gives speeches at schools, marches in the annual Toronto Pride Parade, and works with others to promote acceptance. In March 2012, in tribute to Brendan, Patrick and Brian Burke started the You Can Play campaign. This campaign works to fight unfairness in sports and make them welcoming for everyone.
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