Alex Burrows is one of the league’s most renowned (and some might say reviled) chirpers. He’ll say almost anything to get an opponent off their game, including bizarrely personal stuff for which he clearly does research. He’s admitted to checking his opponents’ statistics before games. You’ll recall his and Ryan Kesler’s taunts to David Backes back in 2009, which included mentioning Backes’s wife by name. And he once got Detroit Red Wings’ enforcer Aaron Downey worked up by making fun of the Downey family potato farm.
That in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of his taunts to Mike Richards was similarly tailored. After Richards laid the Canuck winger out with a big, open-ice hit in the dying seconds, Burrows went after Richards at the next stoppage, only to be knocked to the ice. As the linesmen came in to separate them, Burrows took a jab at Richards’s reputation as a partier by dragging his finger under his nose. Twice. Keep your eyes on Burrows at the 0:25 mark:
Oh dear. No word on if he followed this up with a Rick James impersonation.
But it didn’t stop there. According to Jason Botchford, who witnessed the scene from the press box, the drug use taunt continued as Burrows lined up for the draw. From the Province:
[...] while waiting for the faceoff, Burrows scooped up snow with the blade of his stick. He began flipping it, and then, cradling his pile of snow, he pointed the blade toward Richards. Many saw it as him poking fun at some, well, alleged lifestyle choices. An official thought it offensive enough to jump in the middle, putting a stop to it.
Sadly, every broadcaster was in replay when this would have taken place and not a single one of them was able to produce video for us. However, at 0:45 of this clip from the Kings feed, you can see the official reach out and bat Burrows’s stick down to the ice.
We can presume from Botchford’s eyewitness account that the official’s body is blocking the small pile of ice chips resting on the stick shaft.
While this is one of the most unbelievable and audacious taunts I’ve ever seen, I’m just going to go out on a limb here and suggest this might be one of those reasons Alex Burrows is so strongly disliked throughout the league: it’s a reputation earned through ingenuity and hard work.
Massive stick tap to Daniel W. for the clip.
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peanutflower
April 13, 2012Haha. That’s pretty thoughtful chirping. I wonder if Burrows has a little black book on what gets players bent out of shape. As a Kings fan how do you get angry at that? What can you say? Richard’s reputation is well known — hell, even I’ve heard about his partying. A fan would have to have some pretty accurate inside knowledge to even begin to get pissed at Burrows. Hilarious.
iAN
April 13, 2012its not gettingp issed at burrows, its just that he got absolutely destroyed, stumbled over to get the refs attention then tried to taunt once he knew the refs were between him & any challenger.
Dave Robinson (@dcrwrites)
April 13, 2012Damn, Burr is such an ass – but you have to give him credit for the work that goes into it. And tonight he and Lappy are predicted to be on the same line!
I’m waiting for the fist-bump – “Wonder-Pest Powers, Activate!” (or however you say that in French).
Puckwatch
April 13, 2012I was at the game and noticed this too! The linesman swatted Burr’s stick w his left hand to knock the snow off. I didnt make the connection at the time but can definitely corroborate Botch’s claim
obituary mambo
April 13, 2012There’s an awful lot to be said for hard work and ingenuity. If this really happened, it’s kind of awesome.
vancitydan from NM
April 13, 2012Guys like Lemiuex and Linesman did the same things and worse. Thanks for the catch PITB. Having seen it, I can of course agree with why the rest of the NHL dislikes him, would want him on their team though…
and agree with mambo that its kind of awesome. Points for originality too!
swizzler
April 13, 2012I like how at no point does anyone refer to the fact that Burrows is insinuating that Richards has an outrageous COCAINE habit.
It’s a hell of a drug – Rick James
Christine
April 13, 2012This is the most hilarious thing I’ve ever read. Say what you will about Burr, but that was some quality chirping.
Tamara B
April 13, 2012God, I love the Wonder-Pests
Wonder Pests!
Wonder Pests!
We’re on our way
To help a friend
And save the day
We’re not too big
And we’re not too tough
But when we work together
We’ve got the right stuff
Go, Wonder Pests, ya’ay!
Warpstone
April 13, 2012LOL!
Burrows should just scream an accented “I’m Rick James Bitch!” every time he’s looking at Richards.
Lucky
April 14, 2012Hahaha whatever gets in the other teams head. We never know what players out there are chirping at each other, just once I would love to have all that recorded…definitely not PG though
Bold of Burrows to do so, but that’s why he’s the hated league wide like you guys mentioned. Wouldn’t like him on any other team, but since he’s ours that’s just fine
Ryan
April 14, 2012I like the part were Richards scored a goal and two assist to win the game.
Go Kings Go!
B's fan loving the misery
April 14, 2012All these comments from the same fans that despise Brad Marchand.
I will agree with AV’s irratation with the 5 games that Keith got from the NHL – there was no puck there and it was head hunting. Until Shanny starts being consistent, this league is going to turn into a bunch of Dale Hunters, looking to injure opposition’s best players.
You guys need to trade Scneider for a top 2 defenceman.
For the Love of the game...
April 14, 2012Wow all u Canuck fans must feel pretty lonely right about now, Burrows is a really good player but when u have to resort to chirping, really!!!! then how good r u when u resort to making comments of another players wife, i thought the graduated from middle school. Kessler, i would have never thought he would resort to personal chirps. No wonder no one likes the Canucks…
Last season poetic justice it was great that the Canucks lost after having a two game advantage in the finals Great, Great, Great………
obituary mambo
April 14, 2012I believe it is a widely accepted phenomenon that, while fans may love their own pests, those of other teams are reviled. This is hardly unique to Canuckland. Having said that, Marchand’s taunts are hardly the most upsetting aspect of his game. Then again, the likelihood of your not knowing either of those things seems so darn near impossible that I’m left to wonder if you’re just trying to start a fight. If that is in fact the case, consider me disinterested.
BruinsFan
April 15, 2012A team’s first line winger is a thug???? ONLY in Vancouver … and we wonder why radio stations in Boston think so highly of this website and its hosts.
Daniel Wagner
April 15, 2012Ahem. Milan Lucic.
BruinsFan
April 15, 2012Ahem. Ahem … Milan Lucic …. FROM Vancouver … you can’t make this up, can you?
Daniel Wagner
April 15, 2012Ah yes, changing the argument when your argument is so obviously and blatantly wrong. Well done.
smitty
April 15, 2012Best comment on page, im sure burrows hasnt seen the last of richards.
rick
April 16, 2012Burrows is a cheap shot a-hole. For a guy with talent – and he does have it – to play the dirty game he does is nothing short of disgraceful. Canuck fans should be ashamed of this guy.
OP
April 17, 2012It’s easy to think about clever things to say when you have all that spare time laid out on the ice.