Burke won't attend opening ceremonies By STEVE SIMMONS, QMI Agency

VANCOUVER -- Brian Burke will not be marching in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games.

He made that clear Wednesday in the wake of the tragic death of his 21-year-old son, Brendan. Originally, Burke, the Maple Leafs president and general manager, had talked about looking forward to representing Team USA in the opening ceremony in Vancouver, where he lived for several years.

Instead, Burke plans on rejoining the Leafs Friday in St. Louis, if he can make the appropriate flight arrangements from Boston. The funeral for Brendan Burke was held in suburban Boston on Tuesday.

The Leafs play the Blues Friday night at precisely the same time the opening ceremony takes place at BC Place. Burke will likely be arriving in Vancouver for the Olympics closer to the start of the hockey tournament.