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.

含羞草研究社淣othing too crazy,含羞草研究社� Burzan said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 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含羞草研究社檚 really no better place to get better than skate with guys like that.含羞草研究社�

Still, he含羞草研究社檇 rather being play meaningful games, but the WHL season has been delayed until the first week of January, at the earliest.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been hanging out with family and some friends, a tight circle, and honestly it含羞草研究社檚 a little boring without hockey right now,含羞草研究社� Burzan admitted. 含羞草研究社淚 feel like I含羞草研究社檓 missing a big part of my life not being in Brandon and playing, and those guys are like my brothers. It含羞草研究社檚 been weird.含羞草研究社�

One activity that will keep Burzan busy is the new , a 64-team eSports tournament featuring all 60 CHL clubs, plus four 含羞草研究社渄istinguished hockey personalities含羞草研究社� as guest participants.

The 含羞草研究社淣HL 21含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚 was asked by the team if I wanted to do it, and I thought it含羞草研究社檇 be fun and a pretty cool experience, kinda cool,含羞草研究社� Burzan said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝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.含羞草研究社�

The online action is designed to keep junior-hockey fans engaged at a time when on-ice games aren含羞草研究社檛 happening.

Burzan said he plays the video game 含羞草研究社渁 fair amount, and I think I should do pretty well, but I don含羞草研究社檛 know, there are a lot of players involved, more than 60 of us, so I含羞草研究社檒l try to make it as far as I can,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檒l be hard to win, and some luck will be involved. They含羞草研究社檒l have it on Facebook Live and Twitch, so the fans should love it, and it含羞草研究社檒l be fun. They含羞草研究社檒l get to know the players a bit more, their personalities, so it should be good that way.含羞草研究社�

Viewers can tune in via and on social media using the hashtag #KiaCHLeCup.

含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e really good, and check on me all the time,含羞草研究社� Burzan said of the Denver-based club. 含羞草研究社淚 asked them about camp but right now they have no idea how it含羞草研究社檚 going to look, and hopefully we含羞草研究社檒l know soon,含羞草研究社� he said about the coming NHL season, targeted to start in January. 含羞草研究社淲ith the borders being closed, that含羞草研究社檚 a bit of a problem. There are so many cases down there.含羞草研究社�

Burzan said he felt he had 含羞草研究社渁 pretty good chance of going to camp and proving myself,含羞草研究社� prior to the pandemic.

含羞草研究社淓veryone含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� Burzan noted. 含羞草研究社淪o right now I含羞草研究社檓 just trying to get better each and every day, and everyone含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檒l see.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 Whitecourt Wolverines.

含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 IceCaps. Additionally, he spent six seasons with the ECHL含羞草研究社檚 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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