Charlie Burns

Charles Frederick Burns (born February 14, 1936) is a retired American-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 749 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. Burns was mainly known for being an excellent skater, playmaker and defensive player who performed checking and penalty-killing. His trademark was the heavily padded helmet that he was forced to wear after suffering a serious head injury while playing junior hockey in 1954–55.

Charlie Burns
Born (1936-02-14) February 14, 1936
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Oakland Seals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Minnesota North Stars
National team  Canada
Playing career 19521974

In 1959, he was the only US-born player in the NHL. Although Burns was born in Detroit, Michigan, his family moved to Toronto, Ontario when he was a child.[1] Burns chose Canadian citizenship when he turned 21[2] and later played for the 1958 World Champion Whitby Dunlops.

Burns had three spells as a player-coach, twice with the San Francisco Seals (1965-66 & 1966-67) and one with the Minnesota North Stars (1969–70). He coached the Stars again in 1974-75 after his retirement. Curiously, all of these were midseason assignments. He currently coaches youth hockey for the Wonderland Wizards of Bridgeport, Connecticut in his spare time.[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1952–53 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr 33571217
1953–54 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr 5917143145
1954–55 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr 30000
1955–56 Toronto Marlboros OHA-Jr 2058130
1956–57 Whitby Dunlops OHA-Sr 4016254129
1957–58 Whitby Dunlops OHA-Sr 3124285232
1958–59 Detroit Red Wings NHL 709112032
1959–60 Boston Bruins NHL 6210172746
1960–61 Boston Bruins NHL 6215264116
1960–61 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 83694
1961–62 Boston Bruins NHL 7011172843
1962–63 Boston Bruins NHL 6812102213
1963–64 San Francisco Seals WHL 6833366927 111342
1964–65 San Francisco Seals WHL 5127366319
1965–66 San Francisco Seals WHL 4010354526 71560
1966–67 California Seals WHL 7122386029 60009
1967–68 Oakland Seals NHL 739263520
1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 7613385122
1969–70 Minnesota North Stars NHL 503131610 61012
1970–71 Minnesota North Stars NHL 769192813 123362
1971–72 Minnesota North Stars NHL 7711142524 71122
1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 65471113 60000
1973–74 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 6410192973 1013416
NHL Totals 749106198304252 315496

Coaching record

Team Year Regular season Post season
GWLTPctFinish GWLResult
MIN1969–70 441022120.3643rd in West 624Lost in quarter-finals
MIN1974–75 42122820.3104th in Smythe Did not qualify
Total86225014.204-6241 playoff appearance

References

  1. Shorthanded: The Untold Story of the Seals: Hockey's Most Colorful Team (p. 47), by Brad Kurzberg, AuthorHouse (2006), ISBN 1425910289
  2. The Pappy Line, Time Magazine, March 2, 1959
  3. Kurzberg, p.48
Preceded by
Wren Blair
Jack Gordon
Head coach of the Minnesota North Stars
1969–70
1975
Succeeded by
Jack Gordon
Ted Harris


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