From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born	March 9, 1985 (1985-03-09) (age 24), Ajax, ON, CAN
Height Weight	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 219 lb (99 kg; 15 st 9 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Minnesota Wild
Ntl. team	Canada
NHL Draft	20th overall, 2003 Minnesota Wild
Career	2003 – present

William Brent Burns (born March 9, 1985 in Ajax, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Burns was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Burns spent a portion of his minor hockey career playing in a league then called the Metropolitan Toronto Hockey league (MTHL) now called the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) for the North York Canadiens, along with fellow NHL draftees Anthony Stewart and Geoff Platt. Burns then played his OHL career as a right wing with the Brampton Battalion in the 2002-03 season. He led the team in playoff scoring that season with five goals and six assists in 11 games. Burns was runner-up for Most Improved Player in the OHL as voted on by the leagues coaches.^[1]

Upon turning professional with the Wild in 2003, Burns was converted to defense by defensively minded coach Jacques Lemaire. Burns played in 36 games with Minnesota in the 2003-04 season, showing flashes of natural ability in rushing from the blueline.^{[2 ]} After spending the 2004 NHL Lockout in the AHL with the Houston Aeros, Burns adapted as defenseman and earned a regular spot on the Wild team in the 2005-06 season, contributing 16 points in 72 games.

In the 2006-07 season, Burns eclipsed his previous seasons points total with 25 and became a significant force for the Wild in the later months of the season scoring back-to-back overtime winners in March and two fights during the playoffs.^[3]

On October 25, 2007, during the 2007-08 season, Burns signed a four-year contract extension with the Wild.^[4] Burns emerged as the Wild's best defenseman, establishing a career-high 15 goals and 43 points. His break out season was duely noted when he was named as the best defenseman at the 2008 World Championships.^{[2 ]}

In the 2008-09 season, Burns was shifted between forward and defense with mild success, before he was hampered by a concussion which caused him to miss the final 19 games of the season.^[5] Burns' concussion was later a point of scrutiny when his Agent, Ron Salcer, stipulated that Wild staff had misdiagnosed his symptoms for 6-weeks with sinusitis, putting Burns at an increased health risk.^[6] Burns then had shoulder surgery upon the completion of the Wild season.^[7] He finished the injury-marred campaign with 27 points.

Burns suffered another concussion briefly into his 2009-10 season and has started to skate again as of January 14th.^[8]

Awards

• 2008 IIHF World Championships - Best defenceman

Career statistics

International play

Medal record
Competitor for  Canada
World Championships
Silver	2008 Quebec City	Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver	2004 Helsinki	Ice hockey

Played for Canada in:

• 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (Silver medal)
• 2008 World Championships (Silver medal)

International statistics

Personal

Off the ice, Burns spends his summers in Barrie, Ontario and Lake Elmo, Minnesota and is a noted animal enthusiast. His suburban Saint Paul home is nicknamed "Burns Zoo", due to his collection of dogs, cats, and dozens of reptiles, mainly snakes.^[9] Burns Zoo was subject of a CBC Hockey Night In Canada feature with Elliotte Friedman and on After Hours. In July 2009, Burns married his longtime girlfriend Susan Holder. The couple is expecting their first child in April 2010. Starting in the 2009 season, Burns purchased a suite at the Xcel Energy Center for members of the military and their families to attend Wild home games.^[10]

References

External links

• Brent Burns's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database