Like other WHL players during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luka Burzan is just trying to keep his legs moving.
The Surrey-raised sniper, a Brandon Wheat Kings veteran and Colorado Avalanche draft pick, is skating twice a week at a rink in Kelowna, where he now lives.
害羞草研究所淣othing too crazy,害羞草研究所� Burzan said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 skating with a lot of pro guys like (Damon) Severson, who plays for New Jersey (Devils), and (Brent) Seabrook, a lot of people know him, and a lot of other guys, too, and there害羞草研究所檚 really no better place to get better than skate with guys like that.害羞草研究所�
Still, he害羞草研究所檇 rather being play meaningful games, but the WHL season has been delayed until the first week of January, at the earliest.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been hanging out with family and some friends, a tight circle, and honestly it害羞草研究所檚 a little boring without hockey right now,害羞草研究所� Burzan admitted. 害羞草研究所淚 feel like I害羞草研究所檓 missing a big part of my life not being in Brandon and playing, and those guys are like my brothers. It害羞草研究所檚 been weird.害羞草研究所�
One activity that will keep Burzan busy is the new , a 64-team eSports tournament featuring all 60 CHL clubs, plus four 害羞草研究所渄istinguished hockey personalities害羞草研究所� as guest participants.
The 害羞草研究所淣HL 21害羞草研究所� video-game tournament will be played from Nov. 28 to Dec. 17 on the Sony PlayStation 4 system, with Burzan chosen to represent his Wheat Kings.
害羞草研究所淚 was asked by the team if I wanted to do it, and I thought it害羞草研究所檇 be fun and a pretty cool experience, kinda cool,害羞草研究所� Burzan said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been missing some competitiveness, so trying to win something like that would be really good, and I think it will be a cool experience for sure.害羞草研究所�
The online action is designed to keep junior-hockey fans engaged at a time when on-ice games aren害羞草研究所檛 happening.
Burzan said he plays the video game 害羞草研究所渁 fair amount, and I think I should do pretty well, but I don害羞草研究所檛 know, there are a lot of players involved, more than 60 of us, so I害羞草研究所檒l try to make it as far as I can,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be hard to win, and some luck will be involved. They害羞草研究所檒l have it on Facebook Live and Twitch, so the fans should love it, and it害羞草研究所檒l be fun. They害羞草研究所檒l get to know the players a bit more, their personalities, so it should be good that way.害羞草研究所�
Viewers can tune in via and on social media using the hashtag #KiaCHLeCup.
害羞草研究所� RELATED STORY, from 2019: .
In June 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Burzan was selected in the NHL Entry Draft by the Avalanche, 171st overall. At the time, the left-shot centre had spent with the Wheat Kings and also Moose Jaw Warriors.
Now 20, the Surrey Minor Hockey Association product, who grew up in the Guildford area, had hoped to have a good showing at Avs training camp this past September, but COVID ended those plans.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e really good, and check on me all the time,害羞草研究所� Burzan said of the Denver-based club. 害羞草研究所淚 asked them about camp but right now they have no idea how it害羞草研究所檚 going to look, and hopefully we害羞草研究所檒l know soon,害羞草研究所� he said about the coming NHL season, targeted to start in January. 害羞草研究所淲ith the borders being closed, that害羞草研究所檚 a bit of a problem. There are so many cases down there.害羞草研究所�
Burzan said he felt he had 害羞草研究所渁 pretty good chance of going to camp and proving myself,害羞草研究所� prior to the pandemic.
害羞草研究所淓veryone害羞草研究所檚 goal is to go there and make the NHL, right, and I think I had at least a chance to make the American Hockey League (affiliate team) and get some experience there, but you know what, nobody expected a pandemic to happen,害羞草研究所� Burzan noted. 害羞草研究所淪o right now I害羞草研究所檓 just trying to get better each and every day, and everyone害羞草研究所檚 going through the same thing. Hopefully this will all be over soon and we can get back to work. But even with (the WHL), Manitoba is code-red. We害羞草研究所檒l see.害羞草研究所�
As for the Memorial eCup, the competition starts as a single-elimination tournament, with semifinal and final-round action then seeing players go head-to-head in a best-of-three format.
Other CHL players signed up include Vancouver Giants害羞草研究所� Trevor Longo along with former Giant Lukas Svejkovsky, now with Medicine Hat Tigers.
Meantime, Vancouver Giants have loaned out two players to junior leagues under a new arrangement designed to give athletes competitive playing time while they wait for the WHL season to resume.
One deal will see 2003-born forward Justin Lies head to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 Flin Flon Bombers through Dec. 20 of this year. The Giants have also loaned 2002-born forward Krz Plummer to the Alberta Junior Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 Whitecourt Wolverines.
害羞草研究所� READ MORE: .
In other Giants news, the club has hired Manitoba native Keith McCambridge as an associate coach. McCambridge spent 10 seasons coaching in the American Hockey League, with Hartford Wolf Pack, Manitoba Moose and St. John害羞草研究所檚 IceCaps. Additionally, he spent six seasons with the ECHL害羞草研究所檚 Alaska Aces where he served as a head coach (2007-2009), an assistant coach (2006-07) and a player/coach (2003-2006).
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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