Sault Ste Marie, Ontario netminder Charlie Burns was selected in the ninth round by the Niagara Ice Dogs with the 167th selections in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League Priority Draft.

The 16 year old goaltender played 633 minutes for the Soo U18 AAA Greyhounds in the Great North U18 League during the 2021 – 2022 season in 17 regular season games. In 17 games, the 6’1 and 165 lbs netminder only allowed 16 goals for a 1.58 goals against average while earning two shutouts between the pipes for the Greyhounds. In five games in 2022 post season, Burns saw action for 220 minutes with allowing only six goals and a goals against average of 1.09. At the 2022 OHF AAA U18 provincial championships, the 16 year old goaltender had a goals against average of 3.18 in three games in Toronto, Ontario and allowing only four goals.

Charlie told Saultsports that “it feels great to be drafted by the Ice Dogs into the OHL, I would like to thank them for giving me this amazing opportunity. I feel I can bring a great attitude and a great work ethic to the team and they will be getting a goalie who will do what ever it takes to make it to the next level.”

“Charlie is a real committed young player who wants to continue to improve every day. He showed at the 2022 OHF Championships that he was a big game player and he played his best hockey against the top teams all season. We are happy for Charlie and his family, said Greyhound U18 coach Jamie Henderson.

Elite Post to Post Goaltending added “Charli is very excited to go to Niagara they are getting one heck of a goalie and this kid is a big and athletic along with having very, very high hockey IQ. Charlie is willing to work and get better on the things he needs to work on, but at the end of the day he wants it more than anything.”