A different game plan for Burke
Billy Burke has much more than hockey on his mind these days.
The 33-year-old head coach of the Niagara IceDogs is still unpacking boxes from a recent move while helping care for his two-year-old son, Willy. And if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he is about to become a father again with wife Jamie due any day to give birth to the couple’s second child.
“With Willy being two (years old) now running around, the days certainly have gone quicker than you might think if you’re just sitting around at home by yourself,” Burke chuckled. “During the hockey season, it’s very long hours and certainly a lot of time away from which is tough with a young son and Jamie being pregnant.
“The silver lining in all of it certainly has been being able to spend so much time with the family.”
While diapers and cribs have replaced power plays and line changes, Burke is still missing hockey. The Ontario Hockey League season was cancelled in mid March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has been tough. It’s been unusual,” he said. “The draft process was very unique. Everyone was on the video call so that was weird and then lately it’s been staying on top of things on the phone as much as possible.”
Burke is in the dark as to what the next step might be.
“We really just have to wait and see what the government says. They are throwing around a late start to the season . . . they are looking at all options,” he said. “They’re trying to be as best prepared as they can when things go back to normal.
“Until I hear otherwise, I’m going to play it like we’re going to be back at it 100 per cent in late August like always.”
Burke, who has compiled a 97-79-19-4 record in three seasons as head coach after taking over for Dave Bell, admits this season was challenging.
The IceDogs finished with an 18-39-5-1 record and ended up tied for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Kingston Frontenacs, but Kingston was awarded eighth place based on more regular season wins.
“There’s no doubt it was a very long and trying second half,” Burke said. “Some long nights and stuff like that. When they canceled the season, for a second there was (a feeling of) at least we know now it’s over one way or another.”
Burke is missing not only doing his job, but sports overall.
“By this point, I would have loved to be watching the OHL finals and the Memorial Cup and the NHL playoffs,” he said. “The fact that it’s gone this long, I never would have expected it. No baseball, no basketball playoffs. It certainly is bizarre. It certainly makes you realize how much you miss sports and what a huge part of our lives they are.”
He does feel something good will come out of the situation.
“You certainly learn more from your mistakes and trying times. I’ve been able to use this time to better myself and hopefully better the team as a result of it. Just trying to do whatever I can to make sure when it’s ready, we’re ready.”
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Bill and Bernie.
