Cobalt Burns - Junior Review

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Cobalt Burns Junior Review

 

Cobalt 'Coby' Burns was never a superstar. He was born into a hockey family in Downtown Toronto, and was the youngest of 3 children. Callum Burns, now playing for Laurentian University's hockey team, was drafted into the OHL and played 4 season for the Sarnia Sting before deciding to call it quits on his pro hockey dream. Cailey Burns was one of the best female hockey players in minor hockey before receiving a scholarship to Cornell University, where she stars with the Big Red. Coby started off much slower than either of his siblings, playing for the AA Mississauga North Stars until his U16 year, where he made the team as the 10th forward for the Toronto Red Wings, a prestigious GTHL organization. Alas, when the OHL draft came, he was passed on by every team, and remained with the Red Wings for his U17 season. Despite being widely neglected for his less than average height, his exceptional two-way play and powerful skating drew the attention of the St Michael's Buzzers, a Junior A team based out of Toronto. He made the team out of camp and spent the rest of his 17 year old season quietly picking up points and earning his way up the depth charts. In his NHL draft year, Coby thought he was for sure on at least some teams' draft lists, as the Buzzers were finalists for the OJHL championship and he had put up 22 goals and 55 points in 45 games. He watched painfully as he was passed on in a draft once again, and his training camp play reflected his energy. He was nearly cut from the team, when the coach spoke to him in the Buzzers dressing room after the last camp skate.

 

'Listen, Burns. You've got good character, and you're not a bad hockey player, either. But I can't keep you on this team if you keep fuckin around and feelin sorry for yerself. You've got till tonight to decide.' 

 

That talk lit a fire under Coby. He returned to the Buzzers with a vengeance, and led them to the CJHL championship, with 34 goals and 78 points in 42 games in the regular season and 12 goals along with 20 points in 12 playoff games. His height peaked at 5'11, but he hit the gym hard, gaining 25 pounds to settle at 175 at the end of the season. He received scholarship offers from a few good hockey schools, but decided to follow his sister Cailey to Cornell. His first season with the Big Red, he put up 7 goals and 21 points in 40 games. By the time his sophomore season had begun, he was twenty years old, 5'11 and 185 pounds. That season, he really found his groove. He scored 24 goals and notched 38 assists for 62 points in 36 games, and helped Cornell reach the NCAA finals before being knocked out by Minnesota-Duluth. He won the Hobey Baker award for NCAA MVP, and turned his sights towards pro. The NHL still wouldn't give him a second look, so he announced his waiver eligibility for the VHLM  and signed a contract with the Las Vegas Aces, a short 24 hours ago. While he is currently relegated to the bottom six, he looks to make a solid impression on his counterparts as he prepares for the upcoming playoffs and VHLM dispersal draft.

 

 

 

 

565 words