Cumming "Cummy" Burton

Birthplace
Sudbury, Ontario

Birthdate
May 12, 1936

Deceased
August 24, 2015

Photo
Top right, Burton Family


In addition to being a sports announcer and commentator on CKSO Radio and TV, Cummy (real name Cumming) Burton played professional hockey.

He joined the OHA’s Windsor Spitfires in 1952-53. He garnered seven goals and eleven points throughout 54 games. The next three years of his junior career were spent in Hamilton as a member of the Tiger Cubs. In his first year Burton scored 30 goals and 55 points in 58 contests. Even though his playing time was limited due to injuries he managed 16 points on six goals and ten assists in 28 games in the 1954-55 season. In his final junior year, he scored 31 times, earning 61 points in 38 games.

Then in the fall of 1955 Burton signed a pro contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Used in three games he never made the score sheet. The next two seasons were spent in Edmonton with the Flyers of the WHL. Halfway through that second season (1957-58) Burton rejoined the Red Wings of the NHL for a 26-game stint scoring one assist. The following year his time was split between the Seattle Totems of the WHL and the Red Wings. In 14 games with Detroit, he scored one assist. As a 21-year-old rookie, he roomed with Gordie Howe and played with Alex Delvecchio and Ted Lindsay.

Burton’s pro career took him back to Sudbury with the Wolves of the EPHL (Eastern Professional Hockey League). Over three years he provided consistent, steady offense, resulting in season earnings of 58, 36 and 49 points respectively.

Burton was back in Edmonton for 1962-63 with the Flyers. In the spring of 1963, he was moved to the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL (American Hockey League) dressing for three games. Burton played a year with the Charlotte Checkers of the EHL (Eastern Hockey League) before leaving hockey. However, three years later he returned for one more year of pro hockey in 1967-68 with the EHL’s Florida Rockets. He scored seven times and had 27 points in 52 games and then decided on permanent retirement from hockey.

Burton was the nephew of Larry Aurie, a star player with the Detroit Red Wings from the 1930s who captained the team to Stanley Cups in 1936 and 1937. Aurie wore No. 6 jersey until he retired in 1939. No other player would wear that Detroit number until Cummy Burton was granted special permission to do so during his 43-game tenure with the Wings in honour of his uncle.

There is some noted confusion over rather Aurie’s number is actually retired. In the 1990s, Aurie’s family pressed the Red Wings organization to immortalize No. 6 in the rafters. The Red Wings officially announced they would not formally retire the jersey, but they did promise to keep the number out of circulation in memory of Aurie, thus No. 6 would never be worn again by any other player.

A botched knee operation in Detroit hastened the end of his playing career. He switched tracks and went on to greater success as Sports Director at CKSO. He also hosted his own TV show, “Diaper Downs”, a local hit.

In his lifetime Cummy also worked for the railway, sold automobiles and served as a constant promoter of the Burton Gold Mine. He also supported the Sudbury and Area Boys’ Home with Father Brian McKee and speaking of Fr. McKee, a co-founder of the Flying Fathers, Cummy would join the Fathers when needed on their charity hockey team. People who knew Cummy described him as being a good friend. He was honest, smart and funny.

In 1978 Bill Akerly brought Mr. Burton on board at CBC Radio in Sudbury. Cummy’s stay would not be so long. He was a contract employee who stayed with the CBC for a little over a year until an east coast union sports reporter with the network bumped Cummy as a result of a layoff.

Mr. Burton served as Master of Ceremonies for the House of Kin Sports Celebrity Dinner & Awards from the years 1973 to 1976. Then in the 2012 edition, Cummy was himself inducted into the House of Kin Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame being recognized in both the athlete and media categories. In more recent times Cummy was inducted into Hockey Heritage North in which NHL players born in Northern Ontario are honoured.

He died on August 24, 2015 in Sudbury at age 79. He left behind his wife of 49 years, Suzie, and his children Mike, Christy, George and Cummy Jr. He was predeceased by his first wife, Gayle Sawdon and his son Marty Burton.

In a Sudbury Star news item dated August 26, 2015, Joe Drago, then Chair of Hockey Canada and who was part-owner, coach and general manager of the Wolves during the 1980s stated one of Cummy’s most enduring qualities was his optimism and his staunch support for the Sudbury team. The 80s were proving to be a difficult time for the Wolves and their fans. Drago found reassurance from Cummy when the chips were down. Drago commented, “The one thing I’ve never forgotten about Cummy is when we were in dire straits, losing regularly and everyone was on our tail for not doing this or that, when everyone was a coach in the community or said we had to make changes, Cummy Burton never deviated from his support and encouragement.” Drago went on to say, “There were times when I was sitting at home and the telephone would ring and he would call to give you some encouragement and let you know, ‘Don’t let those guys get to you, because tomorrow’s a better day. I have always treasured that and I have always considered him a dear friend because of that.’”

Bill Catalano who had been at CKSO was pleased when Cummy came to CBC where Bill was now stationed. Bill remembers Cummy with great fondness. On the day of Cummy’s funeral, August 28th, Catalano recalled, “Every day, he had a great story to tell.” Burton’s passing was followed by condolences and tributes on social media, including Sudbury’s own Joe Bowen who once did Wolves play-by-play on CKSO Radio and who has been the Toronto Maple Leafs’ broadcaster. Bowen tweeted, “We have lost one of the greats. Cummy Burton, a great Sudburian has left us. He was one of a kind.”