Shawn Burr, Red Wings fan favorite, dies at 47
Shawn Burr, a rugged forward who played in the NHL for 16 seasons, died on Monday after falling at his home over the weekend, according to WDIV. Burr had been in a three-year battle with myelogenous leukemia.
Burr skated with the Detroit Red Wings from 1983 through 1995. He was a player whose versatility on the ice and likeability off the ice made him a vital part of the team. His relationship with the Wings extended into retirement as Red Wings Alumni Association president.
After he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010, Burr focused his foundation on raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and raising awareness about diagnosis of the disease, as he explained in this WDIV interview last year. "Someone that gets swabbed at the dentist's office is going to save someone's life," he said.
His cancer went into remission for several months, thanks to early detection and a courageous fight, but it returned. According to WDIV, Burr hit his head in the fall but the exact cause of death isn’t yet known.
Burr also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the San Jose Sharks, retiring in 2000 with the Lightning.
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