For the second time, Dave Nonis will be picking up where Brian Burke left off.
Nonis, a Burnaby native who is scheduled to be inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 28 at the Burnaby Firefighters Club, was announced Wednesday as the new general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nonis succeeds good friend Brian Burke, who was relieved of his duties Wednesday morning. Burke will remain with the Leafs in an advisory role.
Nonis also succeeded Burke in 2004 when Burke was let go as the Vancouver Canucks general manager. Under Nonis' tenure in Vancouver, he acquired franchise goalie Roberto Luongo and rumours are already swirling in Toronto that Nonis may be making the same move in the coming days.
Nonis grew up and played hockey in the Burnaby Minor system. He went on to a successful college career before joining the NHL Vancouver Canucks organization and eventually becoming the team's senior vice-president and general manager.
He, along with John Adams and John Berry, are to be inducted as builders into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame.
Tickets for the Feb. 28 dinner are $75 and can be purchased by emailing [email protected].
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