Brent Burns plays for the San Jose Sharks. He is one of the best player in the National Hockey League. The four-time All-Star led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Finals last year.
Many have considered him as the favorite player to win this year's Norris Trophy. The Trophy is awarded to the league's top defenseman.
Brent Burns is honored for his enormous contributions even when he is not playing hockey. He was the winner of the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2015.He earned the award for supporting active military members. He was also a finalist for the ESPN's Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2016.
Bren believes that one has to have the passion for them to get involved in giving back. He acknowledges that people have different passions and interests, adding that his passion is the military. His wife's family is involved in the military.
Bren has a colorful tattoos all over his body. However, he reserved his left arm as a form of tribute to his great-grandfather and grandfather. Both of them fought in the two World Wars. Bren's grandfather lived with him until he passed away. Bren revealed that his grandfather influenced him greatly.Ben is not shy to reveal that if he was not playing hockey, he could probably be in the military.
Bren met with Shane Hudella, who was serving in the National Guard. The two talked about how Bren could help. Hudella thought about it and then Bren started an organization called Defending the Blue Line.The organization's aim was to help military families stay active and healthy by providing free hockey equipment, camps, and financial assistance for league registration fees.They also provides tickets to military families to go to college and games. The organization recently rebranded by changing its name to United Heroes League and expanded from hockey to a variety of sports.
Bren revealed that he has never played any other sports. He grew up in a hockey family and he always loved hockey.Bren expressed his love for the game, which he says that it has imparted him with qualities such as teamwork, hard work and responsibility.
While he was a kid, Bren always had the dream of winning the Stanley Cup. He always pictured himself in Maple Leafs sweater. Having grown up in Toronto, he was a Leafs fan.
His organization made sure that a luxury suite is available for military families at every Sharks home game.They luxury suites are known as Burnzies Battalion. Bren's organization is always receiving a lot of awesome letters from families who enjoyed their trips to the game.
Military families have challenging times, especially when one of the family members is about to be deployed or they've been deployed for a year. A trip to such events organized by Bren's organization is a good way to spend time.
The idea is to have a family night where members can get out together. It's important that every citizen show a lot of respect towards military families. They sacrificed a lot on behalf of the nation.
Bren revealed that he likes meeting the military families as it helps him live out his fantasy. He revealed that the families are very passionate about their way of life.
Source:
sports.good.is/features/brent-burns-san-jose-sharks
