Grand Forks Border Bruins forward Tyler Burke has committed to play National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III hockey for the Castleton University Spartans in Vermont beginning this fall.
Burke, 21, a Vernon, B.C. native, is coming off a standout season in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), where he ranked second in league scoring with 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) in 44 regular season games.
The 6-foot, 180-pound forward was a key contributor to the Border Bruins’ historic 2024–25 campaign. Grand Forks finished first overall in the KIJHL standings before capturing their first-ever Teck Cup championship and going on to win the Mowat Cup as B.C.’s Junior A Provincial Champions.
Burke was named the Teck Cup Playoff MVP after amassing 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 17 games. He continued his dominant play in the Mowat Cup, leading all scorers with 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in four games.
Over his three-year KIJHL career, which began with the North Okanagan Knights in 2021–22, Burke played 171 regular season games, collecting 73 goals and 116 assists for 189 points. He also appeared in 39 playoff contests, producing 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists). His 2024–25 season marked personal bests in goals, assists, and points.
At Castleton University, Burke will join a growing list of KIJHL alumni on the Spartans’ roster, including Cam Reid (Kimberley Dynamiters) and Luke Chakrabarti (Osoyoos Coyotes, Creston Valley Thunder Cats). The program also recently added David Coyle, a former Revelstoke Grizzlies forward.
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