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Brian Burke is going to kill me.

But the story must be told.

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At a Humboldt Broncos charity event Wednesday to which he lent his rock-star status, Burke sat with the parents of paralyzed defenceman Ryan Straschnitzki who he insisted on paying for as his guests.

Upon learning both Airdrie residents had been laid off in the last four months, he reached into his wallet and pulled out eight $50 bills and told me to put them in the mother’s purse when she wasn’t looking.

“Don’t you tell anyone,” were his strict instructions.

It’s not the first time I’ve seen him dole out cash like that, anonymously.

Sorry, sir, but in light of Friday’s announcement Burke was “stepping back” from the organization after five years, it’s important for Calgarians to know the breadth of what Burke brought to town.

Love him or hate him as a hockey man, what he did behind the scenes should be applauded by all.

As president of hockey operations, his arrival added credibility to an on-ice product that had been treading water for years – continually mortgaging the future for an outside shot at the playoffs.