We are proud to announce that Tyler Burnie from the Minor Pee Wee team has been selected to play for the East Coast Select 99 Team. This team consists of players from USA and Ontario. Congratulations from the North Central Predators.
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Burnie cracks lineup with elite hockey team
ORILLIA - When Tyler Burnie treks off to Europe later this year, the Grade 6, Regent Park Public School student will be creating a lot of new adventures in his personal and hockey life.
Recently, the 11-year-old accepted an invitation from the Under-12, 1999 East Coast Selects-O (ECS-O) hockey team and attended a tryout session in Buffalo, N.Y. along with his parents Mike and Teena Burnie.
“It’s pretty cool to get selected and I was pretty excited,” said Burnie, speaking with Orillia Today.
Also attending the invitation-only weekend tryout session was Burnie’s teammate with the North Central Predators minor peewee team, Kyle Heitzner.
And while Heitzner was not selected, Burnie impressed the East Coast Selects coaching staff enough to earn a coveted roster spot.
Burnie noted some of his joy of being chosen was tinged by sadness that Heitzner wasn’t picked.
“I was excited, but it would have been really cool if Kyle had made the team also. I felt really bad for him,” said Burnie, the Predators team captain.
In joining the East Coast Selects, Burnie will be winging is way to Stockholm, Sweden later this year for an international tournament.
That trip opens up all sorts of new chapters in his young life.
“I’ve never been anywhere where I’ve needed to get on a plane, so I have never been on a plane before. So I’m looking forward to that,” said Burnie.
He admitted to feeling both nervous and confident as the date of the tryouts approached, but felt he had a solid opportunity to crack the lineup.
“I think my determination really helped, because during the first two games of the tryouts I didn’t think I was playing all that well. In the last game I said to myself that I had to play well if I wanted to make the team,” said Burnie.
Standing five-foot-seven, Burnie has ample height and weight at the minor peewee level.
“I think it helps to be taller and I think the coaches are looking for taller players who can skate well and I think I am a good skater. Not all tall hockey players can skate well, so I think I have that going for me,” said Burnie.
He credits his Predators head coach Steve Barnes with helping to improve his skating technique this season, while also helping him maintain better personal discipline on the ice during games.
Speaking with Orillia Today, Barnes said he is thrilled for his young forward/defenceman.
“Tyler definitely deserves this. I think Tyler being selected to the team and going to Sweden will be a great experience for him and I think him being selected says a lot about the skill level with the North Central Predators hockey program. It is a win-win situation for both,” said Barnes.
Having coached Burnie for the past two seasons, Barnes said the youngster has matured a lot in hockey and life and has worked hard to become a complete player.
“He is a game-breaker and has the ability to change the flow of a game every time he is on the ice,” said his coach.
Barnes said Burnie’s strong skating ability, his size, leadership skills and play-making ability (passing) provides him with the complete package to be a solid hockey player.