Although Billy Burch grew up in Canada and played youth hockey in the Toronto area, he was born in Yonkers, New York, and is known as the NHL's first U.S.-born star.

Burch came to the NHL with the last-place Hamilton Tigers in 1923, scoring six goals in 10 games. He soon teamed with brothers Red and Shorty Green to form a high-scoring line that took the Tigers from last place when he arrived to first place in 1924-25, when Burch scored 20 goals in 27 games and won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

When the Tigers relocated and became the New York Americans in 1925, Burch was named captain, and since he was born in Yonkers, was quickly promoted as "The Babe Ruth of Hockey" in order to drum up interest in the League's first foray into New York. Burch scored 21 goals in 36 games in his first season with the Americans, who played at Madison Square Garden, and hockey became so popular in New York that the Garden acquired an expansion team, the Rangers, who began play in 1926-27.

He won the Lady Byng Trophy as the player voted to best combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability, and was among the Americans' top players until 1932, when he was sold to the Boston Bruins. In his first season with Bruins in 1932-33, he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks at midseason before retiring at its conclusion following a broken leg.

In 390 NHL games, Burch had 196 points (136 goals, 60 assists), and when he retired, he was the last active NHL player who had played with Hamilton.

Burch retired to Toronto, where he died on Nov. 30, 1950, 10 days after his 50th birthday. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.