Burke Dales Explained

Burke Dales
Birth Date:16 February 1977
Birth Place:Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Number:30
Import:no
Position1:Punter
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:225
College:Concordia
Nfldraftedyear:2002
Nfldraftedround:Undrafted
Playing Team1:Pittsburgh Steelers
Playing Team2:Montreal Alouettes
Playing Team3:Calgary Stampeders
Playing Team4:Edmonton Eskimos
Playing Team5:Montreal Alouettes
Career Footnotes:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Cflallstar:,
Cflwestallstar:,,,
Honors:
Cfl:252

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.

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

Pittsburgh Steelers

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

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.

Calgary Stampeders

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

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

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

Dales' sister, Stacey, is a former Women's National Basketball Association[15] player who currently works as a reporter for NFL Network. His cousin Jason Arnott played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League.[16]

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Steelers uncover old-style kicker. Bouchette. Ed. May 22, 2002. Post-Gazette. January 30, 2009.
  2. News: Concordia Punter Joins the Alouettes - Burke Dales Will Try Out With Montreal. January 15, 2003. Montreal Alouettes Football Club. January 30, 2009.
  3. Web site: Burke Dales P #16. Roster. Calgary Stampeder Football Club. January 30, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20081012224114/http://stampeders.com/team/player_roster/career/?id=27. October 12, 2008. dead.
  4. News: Dales puts faith in NFL networking. Cameron. Allen. January 22, 2009. Calgary Herald. January 30, 2009.
  5. Web site: Stampeders Sign P Dales to Contract Extension. TSN.ca. March 24, 2009.
  6. News: Shabazz to the rescue. Penton. Kirk. February 17, 2009. Winnipeg Sun. February 17, 2009.
  7. News: Dales deal not done yet . Busby. Ian. The Rouge.
  8. News: Kelly To Join Bob Tonight on "The Football Huddle" . February 17, 2009. CJOB. February 17, 2009.
  9. News: Bomber punter bid blocked. https://archive.today/20120723202321/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2009/03/25/8878346-sun.html. usurped. July 23, 2012. Penton. Kirk. March 25, 2009. Winnipeg Sun. March 25, 2009.
  10. Web site: Esks sign All-Star punter Dales . February 19, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120221063933/http://www.esks.com/article/esks-sign-all-star-punter-dales . February 21, 2012 . dead .
  11. https://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions CFL Transactions July 2013
  12. https://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions CFL Transactions October 2013
  13. Web site: Alouettes sign punter Burke Dales | Montreal Alouettes . November 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113032137/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/alouettes-sign-punter-burke-dales . November 13, 2013 . dead .
  14. News: Longtime Calgary Stampeders punter Burke Dales hangs 'em up . . May 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220417/http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/05/16/stampeders-kicker-laces-up-his-boots . May 20, 2014 . dead .
  15. News: Als lose Woodcock, sign rookie Dales. Canadian Press. January 16, 2003. Globe and Mail. January 30, 2009.
  16. News: How to impress your fellow Grey Cup watchers without even trying. Ryan . Allan . November 23, 2008. Toronto Star. March 25, 2009.
  17. News: Stampeders Mourn Death Of Burke Dales . 7 January 2024 . Stampeders . 7 January 2024.