“You’ve been to all these places and when the fires are burning through the heart of L.A. it’s just tough.” — Kings defenceman and former Canuck Kyle Burroughs
The Vancouver native had to keep his gritty game intact to avoid becoming a lineup afterthought. He also navigated long traffic snarls, atmospheric river deluges that threatened landslides, and everything that comes with Lower Mainland residency.
Even wondering when “The Big One” might strike this earthquake zone.
But Burroughs never thought about wildfires. When the depth defenceman was dealt from the San Jose Sharks to the Los Angeles Kings in June, the prospect of his new city going up in flames wasn’t even a thought.
After all, at age 29, his focus was to prolong an NHL career built on doing the tough stuff. Wildfires? They happened elsewhere and certainly not in the rich and picturesque Pacific Palisades or Malibu.
Burroughs and his teammates were struck by the reality that homes would be lost, lives were in danger, and their city would never look the same.
The Kings then departed on a five-game, nine-day road trip that began Jan. 10 in Winnipeg. Watching ravaging wildfires from afar while trying to maintain contact with family and friends, and keeping a professional focus, was beyond difficult.
If that wasn’t enough to occupy Burroughs, his wife, Hayley, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Kellan, on Jan. 4.
“For us down in L.A., it’s been hard with the wildfires,” Burroughs said Thursday following a morning game-day skate at Rogers Arena. “A lot of people have been affected. When we step on the ice, we’re playing for the people of L.A. We’re trying to represent them.
“We’re thinking about them and all the first responders who have taken action.”
Burroughs and his family reside in the Manhattan Beach area that was spared destruction. And the timing of being in hospital at Beverly Hills for birth of their child couldn’t have been better.
“Just two or three days later, there were fires up on that hillside and it was just crazy to think about,” recalled Burrows. “You’ve been to all these places, and when the fires are burning through the heart of L.A., it’s just tough.
“Any new parent would say it’s tough in general, but being with (Kellan) for those five days at home was great. We’re lucky because we can do FaceTime and things like that, but it’s different.
“Hayley has been a trooper and I’m living vicariously threw her and very proud of how she’s holding down the fort.”
Santa Ana winds from the northeast threaten to whip up again and the toll of lives lost and scorched structures could rise. More than 80,000 residents remain on mandatory evacuation.
Sixteen deaths are connected with the Eaton Fire and nine are associated with the Palisades Fire. The Eaton Fire has scorched 14,117 acres and destroyed more than 7,000 structures to rank second worst in California history.
The Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres and more than 5,000 structures to rate third worst in state history. Those fires are bigger in area than the entire city of San Francisco.
“It’s just terrible,” said Tocchet. “You feel for them and I can’t imagine what people are going through. But the one thing when everything is bad is you see the good that people are doing.”
And maybe, that’s where hockey can offer some diversion. After all, it’s just a game and Burroughs has always embraced that element.
He never backs down from any challenge as a hockey-lifer. He’ll play defence or wing and even take on opponents well above his 190-pound weight class.
Burroughs sports a gash on his nose to serve notice that with a year left on his contact at a $1.1 million US salary cap hit, making most of ice time is crucial.
He has played 24 games, collected two assists and 31 penalty minutes, and plenty of plaudits for being the ultimate team guy.
“It (the gash) is from a visor and somebody just punching my helmet,” laughed Burroughs. “It’s part of the game within the game and I’ve always loved it. A hit or standing up for someone is something I take pride in, even if I’m not the biggest guy.”
Kings head coach Jim Hiller was a grinding NHL winger, and the Port Alberni, B.C. native has a fondness for Burroughs.
“He’s been great,” aid Hiller. “He’s hasn’t played as much as he did with Vancouver, but you wouldn’t know it with his personality and energy. You’d think he’s a 50-goal scorer with the way he shows up with a smile.
“And when he’s called upon, he does his job and has been really consistent and physical for us. Team guy, glue guy, which is one of the highest honours.”