Lightning Alum Shawn Burr Dies at 47

It is a sad week here in the Bolts Nation as we are forced to say goodbye to one of our own. On Monday, former Lightning left wing Shawn Burr passed away at the age of 47.

Former Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Shawn Burr. Photo Credit to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

According to Dave Goetze, who runs the Shawn Burr Foundation, while Burr had been battling cancer, he passed away around 7 p.m. after a fall at his home in St. Clair, Michigan caused massive brain trauma.

Burr spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Jose Sharks.

During his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he played a total of 159 games spanning the 1995-96, 1996-97 seasons, and again in the 1999-2000 season.

Burr played in a total of 878 games during his NHL career, scoring 181 goals and 259 assists for a grand total of 440 points. While in a Lightning jersey, Burr scored 27 goals and 38 assists for a regular season total of 65.

He also played 6 post season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1995-96 season, which was the first playoff berth in Lightning history, where he registered 2 assists.

In February of 2011, Burr was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. After successfully completing chemotherapy, he was deemed cancer free; however, just one year later the cancer returned.

Burr created his own foundation, the Shawn Burr Foundation, to raise money for children. After his diagnosis, the focus of the foundation was shifted to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Former Lightning center Brian Bradley,  who played with Burr not only for two years with the Lightning, but in juniors as well, recently spoke with Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Reporter Missy Zielinski about his former teammate, and had nothing but good memories of the left winger.

"He was one of those teammates you could always count on,” Bradley added. “Any time there was a problem on the ice he was always there for you, just like his family, so he’ll be greatly missed.”"

Burr was drafted seventh overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1984, spending 11 seasons with the Wings, followed by 2 with the Lightning. He left the Lightning briefly to play with the San Jose Sharks from 1997-99, and then finished his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000.

We here at Bolts By The Bay extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Shawn Burr. While he may have only been with the Lightning for a short period of time, once you are a Bolt, you are always one of the family.

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