Gull Goalie Burke is Traded to NHL Whalers

Sean Burke, who aggravated a contract dispute with the New Jersey Devils by signing with the Gulls on April 18, got his wish Friday and was traded by the Devils to Hartford, where he will be the No. 1 goalie.

Burke’s deal with the Gulls called for two seasons, but there was an oral agreement to terminate it should the NHL beckon.

The news did not surprise anyone in the Gull organization.

“I thought all along we’d lose Sean,” Gull Coach Don Waddell said. “What we’ll probably do is get a goalie from an NHL team.”

That was the case last season, when the Gulls used Bruce Hoffort from the Philadelphia Flyers as their backup.

Whatever happens, the Gulls will not be left in a lurch--still under contract is Rick Knickle, who led the International Hockey League in victories last season (28) despite losing his starting role when Burke signed with 18 games remaining.

“Rick had a heck of a year,” Waddell said. “He was our No. 1 all year until Sean came in, and then they shared the No. 1 duty. But Rick is definitely capable of being our guy all year long.”

Burke played in only seven regular-season games for the Gulls, compiling a 4-3 record despite a 2.40 goals-against average.

Waddell said he still hopes he can sign Russian phenom Victor Kozlov. Only last week Waddell and Paul Theophanus, a New York agent working as a liaison between the Gulls and Kozlov, said the pursuit was over.

“It isn’t a dead issue yet,” Waddell amended. “It’s dying, but it’s not dead yet.”

Theophanus will travel to Russia the second week in September to perform some person-to-person persuasion.

Kozlov, 17, is said to be a sure first-round pick in next summer’s NHL draft. He was ineligible for this summer’s draft because of his age. The IHL has no age requirement, but Kozlov’s mother fears her son is too young to be on his own in a foreign country and is blocking Theophanus’ overtures.

Kozlov, meanwhile, has balked at an offer from the Central Red Army team, Waddell said, while he tries to convince his mother to untie the apron strings. Kozlov’s father, who originally sided with his wife, now backs his son.

“His dad started to see the light at the other end of the tunnel,” Waddell said. “Now it’s just a matter of convincing his mom. The kid’s only 17 years old, and like any mom she wants to protect her son.”