Dave Burrows

David Burrows (born David James Burrows on January 11, 1949) is a retired Canadian professional hockey player.

He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing Career
Growing up in Toronto, Dave learned to skate at the Pine Point Outdoor Arena in nearby Etobicoke. He won his first Provincial Championship with the Bantam Newmarket Optimists in 1963.

As a teenager, he was selected the Most Valuable Defenseman and a First Team All-Star with the Dixie Beehives of the Metro Jr. B League.

Originally the property of the Chicago Blackhawks organization, Dave 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.

Dave would ultimately never play a game in Chicago, being claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL's intra-league draft in June 1971.

Dave's hero while growing up was Tim Horton. He 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.

Dave credits Horton and Red Kelly, his coach that season, for helping him become successful at the NHL level. He was selected as the Penguins "rookie of the year" for 1971-72 and in his third season, he was chosen as the Penguins' team MVP.

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

A two-time all-star as a Penguin, Dave was traded to Toronto for Randy Carlyle and George Ferguson in the spring of 1978.

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.

Dave 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. He is third all-time in games played among Penguins defensemen (573).

Accolades

 * Played in NHL All-Star Game (1974, 1976, 1980)
 * Represented Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup Tournament