Keynote Speaker: Dave Burrows

Dave Burrows was a professional hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He started his NHL career in 1971 after a minor hockey league career (as a part of the Chicago Blackhawks minor league system), and played through 1981. He was considered to be one of the greatest defensive defenseman in NHL history, and one of the most popular players in Penguin's franchise history.

By 1980, after recovering well from a severely broken ankle, he found his love for the game was waning. He made a return trip to the Penguins fold to round out the 1980-81 campaign, his last in pro hockey. Preferring to leave on his own terms, he decided to retire before he was cut.

Dave Burrows' hero while a young hockey player was Tim Horton, widely considered to be one of the very best defensive defensemen ever to play the game. Burrows had the opportunity to play with his idol for one year, when Tim Horton joined the Penguins for the 1971 season.

Burrows was noted for his ability to stop talented players of his era (such as Guy Lafleur), from moving in their offensive zones.

Several efforts have been made to gain consideration for Burrows for inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame. These efforts have, to date, failed, largely due to the current premium placed on offensive skills and statistics for defensemen.

Dave Burrows was inducted into the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame in 1996, and is listed as a "starter", along with Larry Murphy (Hockey HoF member) on the Penguins all time team.