Burns gets arena in his name where he can look down and ‘see a young Gretzky’
Posted September 25, 2011 3:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ten months after his death, legendary hockey coach Pat Burns has an arena in his name.
The Pat Burns Arena was officially opened today in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.
Burns’ widow Line was to be joined at the ceremony by old hockey friends including former coach Jacques Demers and former players Henri Richard, Guy Carbonneau and Patrice Brisebois.
The three-time NHL coach of the year died last Nov. 19 after a long battle with cancer.
Burns said last year he didn’t expect to live until the opening of the arena but hoped he could look down and “see a young Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux.”
The federal and Quebec governments together pledged two-thirds of the roughly $8-million cost, while the city of Stanstead raised the rest through donations and charity auctions.
