Funeral held for son of Leafs GM

The funeral for Brendan Burke, son of the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, Brian Burke, took place in Canton, Mass., Tuesday.

Maple Leafs players, staff and coaches were in attendance.

Brendan Burke died in a car crash on Feb. 5 in Indiana.

The 21-year-old died of his injuries after a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 35 near Richmond, Ind.

The Maple Leafs organization released the following statement after the Leafs' game against the New Jersey Devils on Friday:

"We are saddened to report that Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke, succumbed to injuries he suffered in an auto accident earlier today in Indiana. The family asks for privacy at this difficult time."

Richard Peddie, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., said in a statement that the organization's "thoughts and prayers are with the Burke family during this extremely difficult time."

Brendan Burke was a student at Miami University in Ohio and had been largely out of the spotlight until just over two months ago, when he talked openly about the challenges of playing sports while coming to terms with being gay.

He said his father was supportive when he came out in 2007.