Burke Dales

Summary

Burke Dales (February 16, 1977 – January 6, 2024) was a Canadian professional football player who was a punter in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS Football with the Concordia Stingers. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002.

Burke Dales
No. 30
Date of birth(1977-02-16)February 16, 1977
Place of birthCollingwood, Ontario, Canada
Date of deathJanuary 6, 2024(2024-01-06) (aged 46)
Place of deathCalgary, Alberta, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)P
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
US collegeConcordia
NFL draft2002 / Undrafted
Career history
As player
2002Pittsburgh Steelers*
2003Montreal Alouettes*
20052011Calgary Stampeders
20122013Edmonton Eskimos
2013Montreal Alouettes
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star2010, 2011
CFL West All-Star2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
Honors
Career stats
  • Playing stats at CFL.ca

Over his nine-year career, Dales played for the Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, and Montreal Alouettes. Dales was born in Collingwood, Ontario, and raised in Brockville, Ontario.

Professional career edit

Pittsburgh Steelers edit

After playing at Concordia University, Dales attended the Pittsburgh Steelers 2002 training camp. He also tried to make the team as a kick-off specialist. When he placekicked, he used the straight-on style which had not been seen in the NFL since the 1980s.[1]

Montreal Alouettes edit

Dales attended Montreal Alouettes's 2003 training camp[2] and sat out the remainder of the 2003 and 2004 seasons before signing with Calgary in 2005.[3]

Calgary Stampeders edit

Dales was signed as a free agent on March 8, 2005, by the Calgary Stampeders.[3]

Prior to the Stampeders' 96th Grey Cup victory in 2008, Dales was offered a new contract to re-sign with Calgary for the 2009 CFL season but withheld signing until seeing if he could get interest from a National Football League team.[4]

Dales re-signed with the Stampeders on March 24, 2009, after failing to gain interest from NFL teams and a reportedly higher offer from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would have meant losing his off-season employment.[5][6][7][8][9]

Edmonton Eskimos edit

After becoming a free agent in 2012, Dales signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on February 19, 2012.[10]

On July 22, 2013, he was released by the Eskimos.[11]

Montreal Alouettes edit

On October 30, 2013, Dales was signed by the Montreal Alouettes.[12][13]

Dales announced his retirement on May 16, 2014.[14]

Personal life and death edit

Dales' sister, Stacey, is a former Women's National Basketball Association player.[15] His cousin Jason Arnott played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League.[16]

Dales died in January 2024, at the age of 46.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ Bouchette, Ed (May 22, 2002). "Steelers uncover old-style kicker". Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  2. ^ "Concordia Punter Joins the Alouettes - Burke Dales Will Try Out With Montreal". Montreal Alouettes Football Club. January 15, 2003. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Burke Dales P #16". Roster. Calgary Stampeder Football Club. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  4. ^ Cameron, Allen (January 22, 2009). "Dales puts faith in NFL networking". Calgary Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2009. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Stampeders Sign P Dales to Contract Extension". TSN.ca. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  6. ^ Penton, Kirk (February 17, 2009). "Shabazz to the rescue". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  7. ^ Busby, Ian. "Dales deal not done yet". The Rouge.
  8. ^ "Kelly To Join Bob Tonight on "The Football Huddle"". CJOB. February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  9. ^ Penton, Kirk (March 25, 2009). "Bomber punter bid blocked". Winnipeg Sun. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Esks sign All-Star punter Dales". Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  11. ^ CFL Transactions July 2013 Archived September 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ CFL Transactions October 2013 Archived September 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Alouettes sign punter Burke Dales | Montreal Alouettes". Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  14. ^ "Longtime Calgary Stampeders punter Burke Dales hangs 'em up". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  15. ^ Canadian Press (January 16, 2003). "Als lose Woodcock, sign rookie Dales". Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  16. ^ Ryan, Allan (November 23, 2008). "How to impress your fellow Grey Cup watchers without even trying". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  17. ^ "Stampeders Mourn Death Of Burke Dales". Stampeders. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.

External links edit

  • Edmonton Eskimos bio