Robin Arthur Burns (born August 27, 1946) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He is the cousin of coach Pat Burns.

Playing career

Burns is the son of the late Robert and Eileen Burns. Robert Burns was an employee of the Montreal Transportation Commission. At age nine, Burns was diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his right leg. He endured five months of the leg being encased in a cast. (Icing on the Plains: The Rough Ride of Kansas City's NHL Scouts, p. 150, Troy Treasure, Balboa Press).

Following a season for the Montreal Notre Dame de Grace Monarchs, Burns went on to play three years with the Montreal Junior Canadiens and another two with the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League (CHL).

"In a 10 page sports section, the Houston Apollos were on page 10. You had the Oilers and the Astrodome, the Eighth Wonder of the World," Burns told Treasure in 2018. "Being away from Montreal for the first time, my first Christmas in Houston was a shock. It was pleasant and 70. In Montreal, it was -20. It was strange to be around the pool at Christmas time." (pp. 150-151)

After spending a season with the Montreal Voyageurs of the American Hockey League (AHL), Burns was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Pittsburgh Penguins for cash in 1970. Most of his time with in the Penguins organization was spent with the AHL's Hershey Bears, whom he helped lead to the 1974 Calder Cup by recording 10 goals and 14 points in 14 playoff games. In June 1974, Burns was claimed by the Kansas City Scouts in the expansion draft. He posted his best seasons with the Scouts but was phased out as the team rebuilt for their move to Colorado. In 190 regular-season games, Burns recorded 31 goals and 38 assists for 69 points.

Following his playing career, Burns and his wife Fran studied polycarbonate and created the protective hockey visor while establishing Itech. Burns was also a coach's agent representing his cousin Pat, as well as John Tortorella, Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien, and Dave King. (Icing on the Plains: The Rough Ride of Kansas City's NHL Scouts, p. 246, Troy Treasure, Balboa Press).

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1963–64Montreal NDG MonarchsMMHJL44131629501835827
1963–64Montreal NDG MonarchsMem-Cup1335814
1964–65Montreal Junior CanadiensOHA391560
1965–66Montreal Junior CanadiensOHA4262897
1966–67Montreal Junior CanadiensOHA4611122399
1967–68Houston ApollosCPHL6521254641
1968–69Houston ApollosCHL611218306330000
1969–70Montreal VoyageursAHL62137203380110
1970–71Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL100334
1970–71Amarillo WranglersCHL4616244049
1971–72Hershey BearsAHL6518153358411210
1971–72Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL50008
1972–73Hershey BearsAHL3922254751
1972–73Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL2602220
1973–74Hershey BearsAHL743135667714104146
1974–75Kansas City ScoutsNHL7118153370
1975–76Kansas City ScoutsNHL7813183137
NHL totals190313869139

Transactions

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or