Among other great things, Jim was an outstanding defenseman with The Fort Wayne Komets Hockey Team.
Komets great Jim Burton passes away
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For more on the Komets, follow Blake Sebring on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blakesebring and at his blog www.tailingthekomets.com.
All-time defenseman, 53, dies from heart attack
By Blake Sebring of The News-Sentinel
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - 1:20 pm
All-Time Great Komets Defenseman Jim Burton passed away Tuesday morning from a massive heart attack. Burton, 53, was living in Evans, Ga. where he was running a flower business with his wife Sandy and working at Jones Creek Golf Club.
In 545 games over seven seasons with the Komets, Burton scored 117 goals and 426 assists for 543 points. He ranks seventh in assists and 12th in points on the franchise's all-time career lists. He ranks second to Guy Dupuis for career points by a defenseman, and Burton is the only defenseman to lead the team in scoring for a season, scoring 94 points in 1985-86. He played for the Komets from 1981 to 1989 when he left to play in Austria.
"He was he minor league Bobby Orr," long-time Komets broadcaster Bob Chase said. "He was totally outstanding at this level, in a world of his own, and he was one of the nicest guys to ever put on a uniform. He was just the total package at the minor league level."
"He was one of the best skaters at any level or any era, and could he ever dance. When he went coast-to-coast, the crowd would start to roar and nobody could take the puck away from him because he had such great hands."
Three times Burton was named the International Hockey League's best defenseman, the only player so honored, and he was the Komets' Most Valuable Player in 1985-86 and 10987-88. After Komets great Len Thornson in 1968, Burton became the first IHL player to sign a multi-year contract in 1987.
A four-time all-IHL selection, Burton still ranks seventh on the Komets' all-time playoff scoring list with 57 points. He's the top defenseman in that category.
"I was very fortunate to get him as a player when he was peaking," former Komets coach Rob Laird said. "I just enjoyed being around him. After the Komets, He went over to Europe and had a real good career. I brought him back to Phoenix as a player-assistant coach (1995-96) because I enjoyed him that much and I knew the guys would like him."
While playing in Austria, Burton also played in the 1994 Olympics. He also played for Austria in four World Championships.
"He was such a live-for-the-moment guy," said long-time teammate and roommate Ron Leef. "He was the most easy going guy. Nothing ever bothered him. He played with (Wayne) Gretzky growing up in Brantford until he was 13-14 years old, so, and I'm sure that's where he learned all those offensive skills.."
After his playing career, Burton coached in the Western Professional Hockey League for three seasons with Austin and Arkansas, and then in the ECHL for three years with the Augusta Lynx.
Burton is survived by his wife Sandy and sons Kelby and Ryan. Funeral details are pending
EVANS, Ga. - James Leslie Burton passed away very suddenly Monday, January 6, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Sandra McNeely Burton and the son of William James Burton and the late Jean Clark Burton. Cherishing his memory are sons, Kelby James Burton and Ryan Gregory Burton, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins. Jimmy was born November 13, 1961 in Georgetown, Ontario and grew up in Brantford, Ontario. After finishing High School he turned professional, playing hockey for the next 17 years. He started his illustrious career in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he met the love of his life. He was a three time winner of the Governor's Trophy while playing for the Komets. He played in 4 world championships and in the 1994 Lillehammer, Olympics, playing for team Austria. After his playing days, he coached hockey teams in Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona, ending in Augusta, Georgia. His family loved Augusta and chose to stay there after coaching. He was Director of Marketing and Corporate Sales for Jones Creek Golf Club in Evans, Georgia. The Jones Creek Golf Family became a second family to Jimmy and his warm smile and manner endeared him to his many friends there. Some of his happiest times were on Jones Creek golf course playing golf with his family and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, January 10th at Christ The King Lutheran Church, 4232 Evans to Locks Road, Evans, Georgia. Following the Service the family will receive friends at Jones Creek Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to "Players Benefit Fund" at Georgia Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 15367, Augusta, GA 30919, (Attn: Evans office) for Kelby and aspiring young tour professionals, or t
Komets great Jim Burton passes away
More Information
Online
For more on the Komets, follow Blake Sebring on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blakesebring and at his blog www.tailingthekomets.com.
All-time defenseman, 53, dies from heart attack
By Blake Sebring of The News-Sentinel
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - 1:20 pm
All-Time Great Komets Defenseman Jim Burton passed away Tuesday morning from a massive heart attack. Burton, 53, was living in Evans, Ga. where he was running a flower business with his wife Sandy and working at Jones Creek Golf Club.
In 545 games over seven seasons with the Komets, Burton scored 117 goals and 426 assists for 543 points. He ranks seventh in assists and 12th in points on the franchise's all-time career lists. He ranks second to Guy Dupuis for career points by a defenseman, and Burton is the only defenseman to lead the team in scoring for a season, scoring 94 points in 1985-86. He played for the Komets from 1981 to 1989 when he left to play in Austria.
"He was he minor league Bobby Orr," long-time Komets broadcaster Bob Chase said. "He was totally outstanding at this level, in a world of his own, and he was one of the nicest guys to ever put on a uniform. He was just the total package at the minor league level."
"He was one of the best skaters at any level or any era, and could he ever dance. When he went coast-to-coast, the crowd would start to roar and nobody could take the puck away from him because he had such great hands."
Three times Burton was named the International Hockey League's best defenseman, the only player so honored, and he was the Komets' Most Valuable Player in 1985-86 and 10987-88. After Komets great Len Thornson in 1968, Burton became the first IHL player to sign a multi-year contract in 1987.
A four-time all-IHL selection, Burton still ranks seventh on the Komets' all-time playoff scoring list with 57 points. He's the top defenseman in that category.
"I was very fortunate to get him as a player when he was peaking," former Komets coach Rob Laird said. "I just enjoyed being around him. After the Komets, He went over to Europe and had a real good career. I brought him back to Phoenix as a player-assistant coach (1995-96) because I enjoyed him that much and I knew the guys would like him."
While playing in Austria, Burton also played in the 1994 Olympics. He also played for Austria in four World Championships.
"He was such a live-for-the-moment guy," said long-time teammate and roommate Ron Leef. "He was the most easy going guy. Nothing ever bothered him. He played with (Wayne) Gretzky growing up in Brantford until he was 13-14 years old, so, and I'm sure that's where he learned all those offensive skills.."
After his playing career, Burton coached in the Western Professional Hockey League for three seasons with Austin and Arkansas, and then in the ECHL for three years with the Augusta Lynx.
Burton is survived by his wife Sandy and sons Kelby and Ryan. Funeral details are pending
EVANS, Ga. - James Leslie Burton passed away very suddenly Monday, January 6, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Sandra McNeely Burton and the son of William James Burton and the late Jean Clark Burton. Cherishing his memory are sons, Kelby James Burton and Ryan Gregory Burton, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins. Jimmy was born November 13, 1961 in Georgetown, Ontario and grew up in Brantford, Ontario. After finishing High School he turned professional, playing hockey for the next 17 years. He started his illustrious career in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he met the love of his life. He was a three time winner of the Governor's Trophy while playing for the Komets. He played in 4 world championships and in the 1994 Lillehammer, Olympics, playing for team Austria. After his playing days, he coached hockey teams in Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona, ending in Augusta, Georgia. His family loved Augusta and chose to stay there after coaching. He was Director of Marketing and Corporate Sales for Jones Creek Golf Club in Evans, Georgia. The Jones Creek Golf Family became a second family to Jimmy and his warm smile and manner endeared him to his many friends there. Some of his happiest times were on Jones Creek golf course playing golf with his family and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, January 10th at Christ The King Lutheran Church, 4232 Evans to Locks Road, Evans, Georgia. Following the Service the family will receive friends at Jones Creek Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to "Players Benefit Fund" at Georgia Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 15367, Augusta, GA 30919, (Attn: Evans office) for Kelby and aspiring young tour professionals, or t
Among other great things, Jim was an outstanding defenseman with The Fort Wayne Komets Hockey Team.
Komets great Jim Burton passes away
More Information
Online
For more on the Komets, follow Blake Sebring on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blakesebring and at his blog www.tailingthekomets.com.
All-time defenseman, 53, dies from heart attack
By Blake Sebring of The News-Sentinel
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - 1:20 pm
All-Time Great Komets Defenseman Jim Burton passed away Tuesday morning from a massive heart attack. Burton, 53, was living in Evans, Ga. where he was running a flower business with his wife Sandy and working at Jones Creek Golf Club.
In 545 games over seven seasons with the Komets, Burton scored 117 goals and 426 assists for 543 points. He ranks seventh in assists and 12th in points on the franchise's all-time career lists. He ranks second to Guy Dupuis for career points by a defenseman, and Burton is the only defenseman to lead the team in scoring for a season, scoring 94 points in 1985-86. He played for the Komets from 1981 to 1989 when he left to play in Austria.
"He was he minor league Bobby Orr," long-time Komets broadcaster Bob Chase said. "He was totally outstanding at this level, in a world of his own, and he was one of the nicest guys to ever put on a uniform. He was just the total package at the minor league level."
"He was one of the best skaters at any level or any era, and could he ever dance. When he went coast-to-coast, the crowd would start to roar and nobody could take the puck away from him because he had such great hands."
Three times Burton was named the International Hockey League's best defenseman, the only player so honored, and he was the Komets' Most Valuable Player in 1985-86 and 10987-88. After Komets great Len Thornson in 1968, Burton became the first IHL player to sign a multi-year contract in 1987.
A four-time all-IHL selection, Burton still ranks seventh on the Komets' all-time playoff scoring list with 57 points. He's the top defenseman in that category.
"I was very fortunate to get him as a player when he was peaking," former Komets coach Rob Laird said. "I just enjoyed being around him. After the Komets, He went over to Europe and had a real good career. I brought him back to Phoenix as a player-assistant coach (1995-96) because I enjoyed him that much and I knew the guys would like him."
While playing in Austria, Burton also played in the 1994 Olympics. He also played for Austria in four World Championships.
"He was such a live-for-the-moment guy," said long-time teammate and roommate Ron Leef. "He was the most easy going guy. Nothing ever bothered him. He played with (Wayne) Gretzky growing up in Brantford until he was 13-14 years old, so, and I'm sure that's where he learned all those offensive skills.."
After his playing career, Burton coached in the Western Professional Hockey League for three seasons with Austin and Arkansas, and then in the ECHL for three years with the Augusta Lynx.
Burton is survived by his wife Sandy and sons Kelby and Ryan. Funeral details are pending
EVANS, Ga. - James Leslie Burton passed away very suddenly Monday, January 6, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Sandra McNeely Burton and the son of William James Burton and the late Jean Clark Burton. Cherishing his memory are sons, Kelby James Burton and Ryan Gregory Burton, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins. Jimmy was born November 13, 1961 in Georgetown, Ontario and grew up in Brantford, Ontario. After finishing High School he turned professional, playing hockey for the next 17 years. He started his illustrious career in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he met the love of his life. He was a three time winner of the Governor's Trophy while playing for the Komets. He played in 4 world championships and in the 1994 Lillehammer, Olympics, playing for team Austria. After his playing days, he coached hockey teams in Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona, ending in Augusta, Georgia. His family loved Augusta and chose to stay there after coaching. He was Director of Marketing and Corporate Sales for Jones Creek Golf Club in Evans, Georgia. The Jones Creek Golf Family became a second family to Jimmy and his warm smile and manner endeared him to his many friends there. Some of his happiest times were on Jones Creek golf course playing golf with his family and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, January 10th at Christ The King Lutheran Church, 4232 Evans to Locks Road, Evans, Georgia. Following the Service the family will receive friends at Jones Creek Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to "Players Benefit Fund" at Georgia Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 15367, Augusta, GA 30919, (Attn: Evans office) for Kelby and aspiring young tour professionals, or t
Komets great Jim Burton passes away
More Information
Online
For more on the Komets, follow Blake Sebring on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blakesebring and at his blog www.tailingthekomets.com.
All-time defenseman, 53, dies from heart attack
By Blake Sebring of The News-Sentinel
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - 1:20 pm
All-Time Great Komets Defenseman Jim Burton passed away Tuesday morning from a massive heart attack. Burton, 53, was living in Evans, Ga. where he was running a flower business with his wife Sandy and working at Jones Creek Golf Club.
In 545 games over seven seasons with the Komets, Burton scored 117 goals and 426 assists for 543 points. He ranks seventh in assists and 12th in points on the franchise's all-time career lists. He ranks second to Guy Dupuis for career points by a defenseman, and Burton is the only defenseman to lead the team in scoring for a season, scoring 94 points in 1985-86. He played for the Komets from 1981 to 1989 when he left to play in Austria.
"He was he minor league Bobby Orr," long-time Komets broadcaster Bob Chase said. "He was totally outstanding at this level, in a world of his own, and he was one of the nicest guys to ever put on a uniform. He was just the total package at the minor league level."
"He was one of the best skaters at any level or any era, and could he ever dance. When he went coast-to-coast, the crowd would start to roar and nobody could take the puck away from him because he had such great hands."
Three times Burton was named the International Hockey League's best defenseman, the only player so honored, and he was the Komets' Most Valuable Player in 1985-86 and 10987-88. After Komets great Len Thornson in 1968, Burton became the first IHL player to sign a multi-year contract in 1987.
A four-time all-IHL selection, Burton still ranks seventh on the Komets' all-time playoff scoring list with 57 points. He's the top defenseman in that category.
"I was very fortunate to get him as a player when he was peaking," former Komets coach Rob Laird said. "I just enjoyed being around him. After the Komets, He went over to Europe and had a real good career. I brought him back to Phoenix as a player-assistant coach (1995-96) because I enjoyed him that much and I knew the guys would like him."
While playing in Austria, Burton also played in the 1994 Olympics. He also played for Austria in four World Championships.
"He was such a live-for-the-moment guy," said long-time teammate and roommate Ron Leef. "He was the most easy going guy. Nothing ever bothered him. He played with (Wayne) Gretzky growing up in Brantford until he was 13-14 years old, so, and I'm sure that's where he learned all those offensive skills.."
After his playing career, Burton coached in the Western Professional Hockey League for three seasons with Austin and Arkansas, and then in the ECHL for three years with the Augusta Lynx.
Burton is survived by his wife Sandy and sons Kelby and Ryan. Funeral details are pending
EVANS, Ga. - James Leslie Burton passed away very suddenly Monday, January 6, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Sandra McNeely Burton and the son of William James Burton and the late Jean Clark Burton. Cherishing his memory are sons, Kelby James Burton and Ryan Gregory Burton, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins. Jimmy was born November 13, 1961 in Georgetown, Ontario and grew up in Brantford, Ontario. After finishing High School he turned professional, playing hockey for the next 17 years. He started his illustrious career in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he met the love of his life. He was a three time winner of the Governor's Trophy while playing for the Komets. He played in 4 world championships and in the 1994 Lillehammer, Olympics, playing for team Austria. After his playing days, he coached hockey teams in Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona, ending in Augusta, Georgia. His family loved Augusta and chose to stay there after coaching. He was Director of Marketing and Corporate Sales for Jones Creek Golf Club in Evans, Georgia. The Jones Creek Golf Family became a second family to Jimmy and his warm smile and manner endeared him to his many friends there. Some of his happiest times were on Jones Creek golf course playing golf with his family and many friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, January 10th at Christ The King Lutheran Church, 4232 Evans to Locks Road, Evans, Georgia. Following the Service the family will receive friends at Jones Creek Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to "Players Benefit Fund" at Georgia Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 15367, Augusta, GA 30919, (Attn: Evans office) for Kelby and aspiring young tour professionals, or t
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