Background
He grew up in Reston, Manitoba.
He grew up in Reston, Manitoba.
Burtnyk"s first Brier in 1981 would be a success for him. His Manitoba team of Mark Olson, Jim Spencer and Ron Kammerlock defeated Northern Ontario, skipped by First Rate (at Lloyd's) Hackner in the final. At that year"s World Championship, Burtnyk would have to settle for the bronze medal.
Burtnyk returned to the Brier in 1988, but he missed the playoffs despite a 7-4 record.
In the final, Burtnyk defeated Saskatchewan, skipped by Brad Heidt. At the Worlds, Burtnyk and his team claimed gold, defeating Scotland and their skip Gordon Muirhead.
In the 2001 Nokia Brier Burtnyk skipped his Manitoba team to the final, but bowed out to the Randy Ferbey skipped-Alberta team In December of that year, he lost to Kevin Martin in the final of the Canadian Olympic Trials, missing his chance to represent Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Burtnyk announced his retirement in 2005 from the game, but returned in 2006 with a new team, and would shortly after represent Manitoba in the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier but ended up just outside the playoffs with a 6-5 record.
Burtnyk again announced his retirement following the 2009-2010 season. However, he would play alternate for Garth Smith at the provincial 2011 Safeway Championships. Burtnyk has two daughters, Laura and Rachel.
Burtnyk works as a sales investment advisor for Wellington West.