Nelson Burton

Nelson Keith Burton (born November 6, 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left wing. He played 8 games in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals during the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1977 to 1984, was spent in the minor leagues. He was selected by Capitals in the fourth round (57th overall) of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.

Early life Burton was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He played junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Hull Festivals and the Quebec Remparts. He also abandoned is child when he was young.

Career Burton played eight games in the NHL, spending the balance of his career in the minor leagues. He scored one career NHL goal against future Hockey Hall of Famer Tony Esposito. He played mainly in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears, Nova Scotia Voyageurs, Syracuse Firebirds, and Baltimore Skipjacks. Burton was involved in youth hockey programs in Maryland for many years. He was also the coach for the Maryland Terrapins men's club hockey team. He now runs Nelson Hockey, a developmental youth hockey organization.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1974–75 Hull Festivals QMJHL 66 20 19 39 353 4 1 1 2 0 1975–76 Hull Festivals QMJHL 39 13 9 22 122 — — — — — 1975–76 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 32 13 16 29 198 13 0 3 3 90 1975–76 Quebec Remparts M-Cup — — — — — 3 0 0 0 13 1976–77 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 67 22 28 50 393 9 1 5 6 70 1977–78 Washington Capitals NHL 5 1 0 1 8 — — — — — 1977–78 Hershey Bears AHL 57 4 7 11 323 — — — — — 1978–79 Washington Capitals NHL 3 0 0 0 13 — — — — — 1978–79 Hershey Bears AHL 51 6 19 25 204 — — — — — 1979–80 Syracuse Firebirds AHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1979–80 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 70 3 10 13 190 3 0 0 0 37 1980–81 Erie Blades EHL 68 20 24 44 385 8 0 0 0 60 1981–82 Nashville South Stars CHL 49 1 4 5 128 3 0 0 0 0 1982–83 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL 60 3 8 11 71 — — — — — 1983–84 Erie Golden Blades ACHL 65 10 12 22 156 9 0 1 1 79 AHL totals 240 16 45 61 788 3 0 0 0 37 NHL totals 8 1 0 1 21 — — — — —