News

Good sport.Sports person of year Ken Burrows celebrates with his OJHL champion Stouffville Spirit Monday at the Stouffville Arena. Sjoerd Witteveen

By Michael Hayakawa

June 20, 2012

When Kenny Burrows played hockey as a youngster he did not envision himself carving a path to the NHL.
What mattered most to the Stouffville resident when he played was to win.
Same goes for his time with the Stouffville Spirit Jr. A team, of which he now a part owner and general manager.
This past season, the 45-year-old Burrows did just that in constructing a Spirit roster that skated off with the franchise’s first-ever Ontario Junior Hockey League title and Buckland Cup trophy.
Burrows’ masterpiece caught the attention of those who voted for this year’s Stouffville Sun-Tribune’s Sports Person of the Year  award.
Burrows will be presented with this year’s award June 29 at Memorial Park during the opening of the Strawberry Festival at 6:30 p.m.
Acknowledging he was shocked when informed of the good tidings, a humble Burrows was quick to point out there were other people who could easily have been chosen, including several with the Spirit.
It’s a trickle down effect, he said, from the assistant coaches down the line to those who volunteered their time on game days to ensure there were no hitches in how the game was presented to the loyal fans.
“I certainly didn’t expect to get this award. It’s actually overwhelming. Especially when you look at the people who have won this in the past like Cliff Dunkeld, Keith Acton and Marlene Streit. I certainly haven’t done the things those people did. There’s more deserving people than me and there was probably quite a list.
“It’s an honour to receive it, but it’s not just about one person. A lot of people were a part of (the championship). It’s actually been a build up over the last three and a half years (from the time Burrows was rehired as the Spirit general manager).”
Burrows made his coaching debut as an assistant when he was 22 years old with a Stouffville Clippers midget rep team, remaining with them for three seasons.
After taking a couple of years off from the game, Burrows returned and made his debut with the fledgling Spirit. That was 15 years ago when the team was owned by Ed Hakonson and coached by Dan Larmer, who replaced Steve Sedore.
“Ed and Dan asked if I would like to be a scout for the team and one of my first duties was to get their spring camp ready,” he said.
After two seasons of being a scout for the Spirit, Burrows then moved up the ranks to become an assistant coach under Brian Perrin, who was hired in 1998.
It was during his first year in working as an assistant coach where Burrows said he had a desire to some day become a general manager.
That call eventually came four years later during the 2001-02 campaign when Burrows stepped up to become the club’s general manager after Dieter Schmidt, who served in that post, became ill and retired.
“If things like that aren’t taken care of, the players hate it,” he said. “Hockey is an emotional game and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a general manager where I could affect the team in a positive manner rather than being a coach, which everyone wants to do.”
Relieved of his duties after the 2006-07 season, Burrows took over as general manager of the now defunct Collingwood Blues for one season.
The following campaign, he assisted the Newmarket Hurricanes in organizing their spring camp and started the season with them before receiving a call from then Spirit co-owner Dave Laren, asking if he would like to return to the Spirit.
Burrows eventually returned to the Spirit where he’s been the general manager for the last three-and-a-half seasons.
Several people have been highly influential on Burrows’ career, including Stouffville native and new Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach Keith Acton.
“Keith has given me a lot of encouragement and still does,” Burrows said. “He does a lot more for our team than what people know.”
Others include fellow associates during his time with the Spirit in Schmidt and Perrin.
“With Brian, when I first got to work with him he said ‘I want to go young’ and I said ‘perfect’.
“You’ve got to have a person around who agrees with you. You need to be on the same page with who you’re working with. Especially in junior hockey when you’re dealing with young kids and their parents.”
Perrin has also won the sports person of the year award.
Burrows was quick to acknowledge his job was made easier when given plenty of leeway to do what he wanted from Hakonson and current co-owner Zeev Werek.
“If it wasn’t for Ed there might not be a Spirit team in Stouffville today,” Burrows said. “Ed saved the team and he wasn’t really a hockey guy, but more into cars.
“Zeev has spent a lot of money on the team. He does it the right way and doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. He loves the team and community,” Burrows said.
Burrows’ selection as the Stouffville Sun-Tribune’s Sports Person of the Year was lauded by those who worked closely with him.
Werek said he could not think of any other person who was more deserving of this year’s honour.
“It was long overdue. He’s been a real gem for the team,” Werek said. “He’s put his heart and soul into this organization from the time he started as a scout to being an assistant coach and general manager.
“He’s one of the reasons why it’s been enjoyable for me to be a part of the Stouffville Spirit.
“When he wasn’t around the Spirit there was a huge void in the organization. What stuck in my mind was for us to get him back. I’m a big fan of Kenny Burrows. Stouffville is extremely lucky to have him.”
Craig Donovan, former Spirit head coach who led the OJHL club to their first-ever Buckland Cup title this past season and was hired by Burrows three years ago upon his return to the team for his second tour of duty as general manager, felt the award was richly deserved.
What Donovan admired most about Burrows was his work ethic and uncanny ability in identifying players who fit the Spirit  philosophy.
“There are days when he would drop in at our practice for a few minutes before heading off to scout a game or tournament involving minor midget or midget players,” Donovan said. “He spends as much time in the rinks during the winter months as any Ontario Hockey League scout would do. He’s a tireless worker when it comes to finding the right player. By right in terms of the potential to grow as a player and as good kids.
“He makes sure they’re good players and good citizens. To do that takes a lot of time. He does a lot to bring quality players to Stouffville.
“For a small town, the franchise has been successful under his guidance.”
Named as the OJHL’s Executive of the Year last season and recently named director to the league’s North and East Divisions for the upcoming campaign, Burrows hinted he would relish the opportunity to continue with his career at a higher level.
“I’d love a shot at the Ontario Hockey League as a general manager,” said Burrows, who owns the Farmer Jack’s garden store in Sharon. “I know a lot of guys in the league and I’ve watched a lot of them and if I had a chance I’d grab it in a hearbeat.
“I don’t think they’ll find a harder working person.”

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