After battling back from multiple long-term injuries, Owen Burnell is finally healthy and ready to resume his promising hockey career. And he won't even have to change uniform colours to do it.
The graduating forward from the Hamilton Bulldogs will stay in black and gold for the foreseeable future, as Burnell has committed to the Waterloo Warriors men's hockey program, beginning with the 2019-20 season.
Burnell, a native of Caledonia, Ontario, knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity: despite not being selected in the OHL draft, he put up 126 points in 133 career games with the Ancaster Avalanche of the GOJHL. Burnell's play earned him a look with the Bulldogs, and he was poised to become a regular in the OHL at age 19. But a devastating check to the head in November of 2017 derailed his first full major junior season, as Burnell suffered from post-concussion symptoms for months after the hit.
After being cleared to play late in the Bulldogs' playoff run in 2018, and suiting up four playoff games and one Memorial Cup game in Hamilton's march to a championship, his symptoms returned in the offseason. To his credit, Burnell listened to his body and recovered the right way, making his overage season debut this past January.
But Burnell's bad luck returned just 16 games later, as he suffered a broken wrist that ended his season. While it wasn't the way he envisioned his OHL career finishing, Burnell is happy to be on the mend and to shift his attention to the Warriors. He even found a silver lining in his season-ending injury.
"Ending the year early was tough," said Burnell. "But I look at it as a positive as well – I have the whole summer to rehab it, get in the gym, and get ready for the season."
From Waterloo's perspective, recruiting a player that's missed so much time can be a complicated matter as well. But Warriors head coach Brian Bourque said any concerns with lack of game tape were mitigated by the type of player Burnell is on the ice, and the type of person he is off the ice.
"We were impressed with what former teammates and coaches said about Owen," said Bourque. "He's a great addition to our dressing room, and he's a workaholic. His game is built on instincts and habit. His ability to defend isn't going anywhere (despite missing time). That's just how he's wired."
In 47 career OHL games, Burnell registered 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points. But given his offensive output in the Jr. B ranks, Burnell has shown an aptitude at both ends of the rink – the 5'10" forward was a key cog in Hamilton's penalty kill the last two seasons, and his intelligence both on the ice and in the classroom made Waterloo a perfect fit for Burnell.
"When Brian and (Associate coach) Ben (Fanelli) laid out the culture of the team, and how they take care of their guys both on and off the ice, it made my decision very easy," said Burnell. "I consider myself a 200-foot forward, and a defensive-minded forward. I was in a third or fourth-line role with the Bulldogs, but I like to think I can chip in offensively, too."
"He takes pride in being a top third-line guy," added Bourque. "He's determined to shut guys down and play against the top lines. His stick and his feet are always in the right position, and he always makes defensive decisions first – but he has offensive ability, too."
Burnell will officially join the Warriors in September for training camp, before the black and gold kick off their OUA regular season on October 3.
