After being named to CSCHL all rookie and second all star teams, former Soo Thunderbirds captain Gavin Burbach has been selected to the ACHA all rookie team. The Newberry, Michigan product earned this national recognition as he led the Robert Morris Gold in scoring this season as a freshman with twenty three goals and fourty nine points through thirty seven games along with just sixteen penalty minutes. He also had one assist in two games at the D1 Nationals.
Burbach’s forty eight goals during the 2013-2014 regular season with us put him third on the Soo Thunderbirds all time goals per season list behind Jeff Rainville (56) during 2002-2003 and David Borrelli (50) in 2001-2002. After becoming the first T-Bird to win the NOJHL scoring title since Jeff Rainville in 2002-2003, he also shared the team MVP award with goaltender Joel Horodziejczyk along with setting new team records during his final year in 2013-2014 for most insurance goals in a game with nine, most goals scored in a second period with eighteen, tying him with Fred Coccimiglio (2000-2001) and most opening goals in a game with nine.
His awards during his final NOJHL season with us also included the league’s best overall team player along with being named to the first all star team.
