Brendan Burke, gay son of Maple Leafs GM, dies in car crash

Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, died following a car crash in Indiana on Friday. He was 21.

In a statement from the team:

“The Toronto Maple Leafs are saddened to report that Brendan Burke, the
youngest son of Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke,
succumbed to injuries he suffered in an auto accident earlier today in
Indiana. The family asks for privacy at this difficult time. Thank you.”

Brendan Burke made waves in the sports world last year after ESPN.com wrote about his coming out story and his father’s support. Read the ESPN article which reignited a discussion on homophobia and sport.

Watch a clip of Brendan Burke and his dad on TSN last year:

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