Cheryl Burke Is Dating Toronto Maple Leafs Player Joffrey Lupul

Hockey players have had a lot of success with women in the limelight, perhaps due to the fact a lot of hockey players avoid the limelight themselves. Carrie Underwood and Hilary Duff are both married to NHL players and Elisha Cuthbert has done her share of serial hockey player dating. Now, professional dancer and Dancing with the Stars employee Cheryl Burke is also giving dating a hockey player a go.

Joffrey Lupul’s name may sound more like a devious character from a George R. R. Martin novel, but his skills on the ice are pretty impressive. Turns out, he’s pretty decent at the dating game, too. The Toronto Maple Leafs player actually met Burke back in June at the NHL awards in Las Vegas but did not cozy up in public until Wednesday, when they went to Del Mar California to egg on some racehorses.

People, caught the couple at the Jockey for a Cause event at the DeHaven Estate in Rancho Santa Fe. They weren’t being shy about their newfound companionship, showing affection by kissing and holding hands numerous times. The hockey season does not start in earnest until September/ October, and Pop Blend would like to wish the new couple the best of luck in their last few months of dating bliss, before a hectic work schedule prevails once more.

Who knows, maybe a new relationship will be just the ticket to give Burke the push to pull through with a dancing partner win on ABC’s hit competition show, once more.