OHL shutout for NOJHL grad
A season of development with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has led to 2006 birth year goalie Charlie Burns taking advantage of a good opportunity to tend twine for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
Originally drafted into the OHL in the ninth round of the 2022 priority selections draft by the Niagara Ice Dogs from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League, the 6-foot-1, 190 pound Burns was dealt to Erie at this year’s trade deadline for a future 10th round pick.
After appearing in only one game for Niagara this season and getting lit up for six goals in one period of action, Burns has since come up big in two starts for Erie. In his two games with the Otters, Burns has a record of 2-0 with a 1.92 goals against average and .933 save percentage. And both wins have come against contending teams in the Western Conference.
His first OHL win came in late January and was a 5-4 overtime victory over the powerhouse London Knights. Less than a week later, Burns made 23 saves in a 3-0 shutout of the Guelph Storm.
Playing in the NOJHL for Blind River as a 16-year old in 2022-2023, Burns had a record of 18-3-4 with a 1.99 goals against average, .923 save percentage and six shutouts.