Kyle Burroughs had hoped to build off a solid rookie season in the Western Hockey League, but instead found himself struggling out of the gate at the start of his second year with the .
As a 16-year-old 鈥� playing against competition as many as four years older than he was 鈥� Burroughs was steady, registering eight points in 55 games and was a plus-7.
Nothing gaudy, but good, respectable numbers for a newcomer in the league.
So with heightened expectations, Burroughs began year two with the Pats in September.
鈥淗e got off to a rough start,鈥� admitted head coach Malcolm Cameron.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it was the pressure he put on himself because of the year he had as a 16-year-old.
鈥�(But) by Christmas time, he came back and completely changed his game and became a real, real solid player for us.鈥�
Burroughs was used in all facets of the game and was playing about 30 minutes per night, huge minutes no matter the level.
And he stepped up at the perfect time as the Pats defensive corps were ravaged by injuries.
鈥淔or the longest time, he was the veteran guy back there because of the injuries we had to the older guys,鈥� Cameron said.
鈥淗e certainly turned his game around in the second half and his draft status and ranking jumped up tremendously.鈥�
According to NHL Central Scouting鈥檚 midterm ranks, Burroughs was listed 206th among North American skaters. But by the time the final rankings were released this spring,
The NHL holds their annual entry draft on Sunday (June 30) at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
For his part, Burroughs 鈥� who turns 18 on July 12 鈥� is trying not to think too much about the impending draft.
鈥淛ust hope for the best and try not let it affect my day-to-day things,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut obviously it is in the back of my mind.
鈥淚 try not to let it be too much of a focus in my life.鈥�
When he spoke to The Times last week, he was preparing for his final provincial exam 鈥� for his English class 鈥� as well as graduation from Brookswood Secondary.
While some prospects chose to attend the draft in person 鈥� which Aldergrove鈥檚 plans to do 鈥� Burroughs will do so from home with his family.
Being drafted would be one step closer to achieving the ultimate dream of playing in the NHL. But just days away from determining where he may one day play, and it hadn鈥檛 quite sunk in yet.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 hit me yet, but I am sure it will,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 am kind of in awe right now, I can鈥檛 comprehend it. It is such a big dream and so close.鈥�
Burroughs, out of the 91原创 Minor Hockey Association by Regina in the 2010 WHL bantam draft, earned with 11 goals and 36 points in 36 games.
He joined the Pats the following season and his game really took off his sophomore year.
鈥淚t was a big difference (from year one to two),鈥� he said.
鈥淚 went from being the sixth or seventh defencemen on that team, surrounded by guys that are 19, 20 years old, to being one of the most veteran guys on the blue-line this year, so it was two ends of the spectrum.鈥�
When the injury bug hit the team, Burroughs was needed to do more and he did not disappoint, finishing with five goals and 28 assists in 70 games. While the numbers may seem pedestrian 鈥� he was 33rd in league scoring for defencemen 鈥� what stands out is that he had 26 of his points in the season鈥檚 final 35 games. Had he maintained that pace for a full season, Burroughs would have cracked the top 10 among defencemen.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 worried about the numbers, I was just worried about playing my role and contributing to the team,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce I became more comfortable, the points started coming and I kept rolling with it.鈥�
He earned the team鈥檚 top defenceman award (side photo).
鈥淚t was hard to believe he was a 17-year-old with the way he played and led our d-corps,鈥� Cameron said.
鈥淎 lot of that can be attributed to he kept his game simple: playing physical, making a good first pass, jumping up in the rush and added on his game from there.鈥�
And despite not being the biggest of players 鈥� Burroughs is 5-11 and 175 pounds 鈥� he plays a physical game.
鈥淗e is not afraid to drop the mitts and take on anybody, regardless of their age or size,鈥� Cameron said.
Regardless of what happens in Sunday鈥檚 draft, Burroughs is focused on working out, getting stronger and taking more of a leadership role next season with the Pats. He said he doesn鈥檛 worry about getting complacent.
鈥淚 have never been satisfied, there are always guys that are going to be better than you,鈥� he said.
鈥淯ntil you are the best 鈥� that is something you keep chasing.鈥�
Burroughs is working out this summer with a 91原创-based training program.
