Dave Burrows

Last updated
Dave Burrows
Dave Burrows 2010-04-08.JPG
Burrows in 2010
Born (1949-01-11) January 11, 1949 (age 76)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19691981

David James Burrows (born January 11, 1949) is a Canadian retired professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Contents

Career

Burrows was born in Toronto, Ontario. Burrows learned to skate at the Pine Point Outdoor Arena in nearby Etobicoke. [1] He won his first Provincial Championship with the Bantam Newmarket Optimists in 1963. [1] As a teenager Burrows was selected the Most Valuable Defenseman and a First Team All-Star with the Dixie Beehives of the Metro Jr. B League. [1]

Originally the property of the Chicago Blackhawks organization, Burrows played his junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey Association's St. Catharines Black Hawks before turning pro with the Central Hockey League's Dallas Black Hawks in 1969. [2] The defenseman would ultimately never play a game in Chicago, being claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL's intra-league draft in June 1971.

Burrows' hero while growing up was Tim Horton. Burrows had the opportunity to play as the defence partner of his idol for one year, when Horton joined the Penguins for the 1971–72 season. [2] Burrows credits Horton and Red Kelly, his coach that season, for helping him become successful at the NHL level. Burrows was selected as the Penguins "rookie of the year" for 1971-72. [1] In his third season, he was chosen as the Penguins' team MVP. [1]

In 1976, Burrows was selected to represent Canada in the Canada Cup Tournament. Chosen as a defensive replacement for future Hockey Hall of Fame member Bobby Orr, Burrows did not play in the tournament as Orr earned MVP honours. [1]

A two-time all-star as a Penguin, Burrows was traded to Toronto for Randy Carlyle and George Ferguson in the spring of 1978. [2] After two and a half seasons playing in his hometown (including another All-Star appearance in 1980), the defenceman was traded back to Pittsburgh along with Paul Gardner in exchange for Kim Davis and Paul Marshall early in the 1980-81 season.

Burrows is a member of the Penguins "all-time team", a list of the 15 greatest players in Penguins history as chosen by Trib Total Media. [3] He is third all-time in games played among Penguins defensemen (573). [4]

Personal life

Burrows' grandson Sully Burrows is a country music singer and songwriter. [5]

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1967–68 Dixie Beehives OPJHL
1967–68 St. Catharines Black Hawks OHA 9033450000
1968–69 St. Catharines Black HawksOHA-Jr.5431619361814512
1969–70 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 69491345
1969–70 Portland Buckaroos WHL 111236
1970–71 Dallas Black HawksCHL671111249100224
1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 77210124840004
1972–73 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL783242742
1973–74 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL713141730
1974–75 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL782151749911212
1975–76 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL80722295130000
1976–77 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL693692930220
1977–78 Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL674151924
1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL65211132860117
1979–80 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL80316194230112
1980–81 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL60002
1980–81Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL530222810000
NHL totals724291351643732915625

Transactions

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 bobbyorrhalloffame.com. "Inductee Corner 2004 Inductees". Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 HHOF. "Dave James Burrows". legendsofhockey.net. Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  3. "Trib Total Media All-Time Team - Pittsburgh Penguins - Team". Pittsburgh Penguins. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  4. penguins.nhl.com. "Dave Burrows Defense, 1971-78, 1980-82". Pittsburgh Penguins. Archived from the original on 2013-07-22. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  5. Holmes, Krista (May 1, 2025). "The Burrows Legacy Continues 🏒🎸". Parry Sound Hockey Club. Retrieved November 21, 2025.