The frozen rivers and ponds near Neil Burk’s childhood home in Lochlin were the training rinks for a lifetime on skates.
Along with friends and cousins, he honed his hockey skills with homemade goalie pads and well-worn equipment. In 1952, at the age of 13, he was on his first winning team, the Haliburton Peewees. By 1956, Neil was playing for the Haliburton County Intermediate “C” club, a squad that won Provincial Championships in 1956, ‘57, and ‘58.
Neil was a big player who avoided the penalty box. In 1956, he was rewarded with invitations to two professional training camps, Boston and Toronto. He accepted the Bruins’ offer but soon realized the pros were not for him.
Back in Haliburton, he took up a career with the Forestry Division of Ontario Hydro and committed his free time to a variety of local sports including fastpitch softball. Neil, known by everyone as “Beagle”, played on, coached, and managed teams like the Snowden Combines and the Rockcliffe Hustlers where he earned the reputation of being one of the best shortstops in the county,
As an active member of the Minden Curling Club, Neil organized bonspiels, like the long running Rockbusters event.
A lifelong resident of Haliburton County, Neil was an outstanding athlete who earned the respect of his fellow players for his contributions, his friendly nature, and his willingness to find sponsors and recruit members. He took the lead organizing practices and game days and building the infrastructure required to optimize everyone’s enjoyment of sports. Neil Burk took his obligations to the communities he served seriously, and is remembered as a valued friend, colleague and family member.
