Brian Burke to serve leadership role with women’s hockey union

Brian Burke has been selected to serve a leadership role with the professional women’s hockey union. As The Hockey News wrote earlier today, Burke will succeed former professional hockey player Jayna Hefford in the role. The player’s association came to an agreement with the PHF to merge leagues and begin play in January 2024. They have recently been bought by Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises and are undergoing changes.

The PWHPA board includes Hilary Knight, Brianne Jenner, Sarah Nurse, and Kendal Coyne-Schofield. All of whom are long-time veterans of women’s hockey and some of the greatest players to ever play in the sport. Brian Burke will be joining them to provide support in advocating for player’s rights and better working conditions and pay. He was most recently the president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was fired from the Penguins because they missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 years during the 2022-23 season.

He has worked for the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, as well as the NHL league office, during his long career in hockey. He built the Stanley Cup winning Ducks team in 2007.