Olympic Legends: Sean Burke

Long before he established himself as a top NHL goaltender, Sean Burke was becoming a household name in Canada.

After getting a taste of international hockey in the 1986 world junior championships, the highly rated goaltender opted to apprentice with the Canadian national team instead of the minor professional leagues. In the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons Burke stopped pucks in 78 official games with the national team, winning 46 of them. His performance was strong enough to make the 1988 Olympic team, though he’d have to share goaltending duties with NHL holdout Andy Moog. The duo formed a formidable tandem, but ultimately the team could only finish in fourth place in front of a Canadian audience.

If there is anyone who understands the pressures of tending to the Canadian Olympic net on home ice, it is Burke. He recently spoke about the pressures, and more importantly the amazing opportunities, Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo and Marc Andre Fleury face.