The new professional women's hockey league has made their first public hire, bringing in Burton Lee from the OHL's Peterborough Petes.
The new professional women's hockey league has made their first public hire, bringing in Burton Lee from the OHL's Peterborough Petes.
Burton Lee, executive director of business operations with the OHL's Peterborough Petes has been hired by the new professional women's hockey league as the league's Director of Game Operations and Fan Experience within the Hockey Operations Department.
“I am looking forward to contributing to one of the most exciting projects in the sport industry, working alongside a renowned ownership and executive team to establish the new professional women’s ice hockey league,” Lee said in a Peterborough Petes press release.
“The Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises have initiated something truly special for the hockey world. I am excited to work alongside a team led by Jayna Hefford, and to use the knowledge and experience I’ve gained in Peterborough to help fans across North America and around the world experience elite hockey in a new way.”
Lee has also worked with the OHL's Sarnia String, and CFL's Toronto Argonauts. He was an integral part of the Peterborough Petes front office, who won the 2022-2023 Ontario Hockey League Community Involvement Award.
“Burton has been the driving force behind our Business Operations for the past 10 years,” said Petes President Dave Pogue.
“His innovative and progressive ideas spawning some major changes in our business model have helped the Petes organization make huge strides, and Burton’s team is regarded as one of the best and most respected in junior hockey.”
“Although we will greatly miss Burton’s talent, leadership and most of all, his second to none work ethic, we are very excited for him to be able to take on new challenges with his next career move.” added Pogue.
The new professional women's hockey league posted and began contacting candidates for six general manager positions earlier this month.
The Peterborough Peters were one of several OHL franchises to partner with the PWHPA this past season.