Tim Burke (ice hockey)

Tim Burke
Born	(1955-05-29) May 29, 1955 Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey defenseman (retired), assistant coach, director of scouting
Years active	1975–1982 (playing), 1984–present (coaching/scouting)
Known for	Director of scouting for the San Jose Sharks

Tim Burke (born May 29, 1955) is a retired ice hockey defenseman and seasoned assistant coach who currently holds the position of director of scouting for the San Jose Sharks.

Career

In his capacity as director of scouting, Burke oversees the Sharks' initiatives during the NHL Entry Draft and manages the assessment of amateur players from both North American and European leagues. Working in close partnership with EVP and GM Mike Grier (ice hockey), he supervises all aspects of amateur scouting. Burke’s insightful draft choices have contributed significantly to establishing a robust foundation for the franchise, selecting key players such as Patrick Marleau (1997), Douglas Murray (1999), Ryane Clowe (2001), Joe Pavelski (2003), Thomas Greiss (2004), Torrey Mitchell (2004), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (2005), Jamie McGinn (2006), Justin Braun (2007), and Calder Memorial Trophy finalist Logan Couture (2007).

Since the 2003 NHL Draft, the Sharks have led the NHL in total games played by their drafted players, accumulating 3,123 appearances, and have consistently ranked at the top for average number of homegrown players on their roster each season from 2005-06 onward, maintaining an average of 12.

Burke began his tenure with the Sharks’ scouting division in the 1992-93 season, advancing to director of scouting in June 1996 after serving as director of professional scouting between 1992 and 1996. Prior to this, he spent five seasons within the New Jersey Devils organization from 1987 to 1992 as an assistant coach, head coach for their AHL affiliate Utica Devils, and professional scout. Additionally, he held an assistant coaching role at Princeton University between 1984 and 1986.

Selected by the Montreal Canadiens as the 124th overall pick in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft and by the Chicago Cougars at 25th overall in the 1974 WHA Draft, Burke was a four-year varsity athlete in both hockey and baseball at the University of New Hampshire, earning NCAA All-America recognition during his senior season. His professional playing career spanned seven years, including three seasons with the Canadiens’ AHL team, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, and one season competing in Finland’s premier league with Jokerit Helsinki.

See also

List of New Jersey Devils head coaches

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team	1975–76
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team	1976–77
AHCA East All-American	1976–77