Time and time again, Burcar is able to use his lethal combination of size and speed to dart past defenders and set up scoring chances for himself off the rush. His incredibly quick acceleration with the puck allows him to catch opposing defenseman flat-footed during counter-attacking opportunities yet even when defenders are able to keep up with him, he has shown the ability to stickhandle his way out of tight areas or use his length to protect the puck and fit passes through sticks. He was often able to generate quality looks from the sides of the net, trying to catch goaltenders off guard using his quick release to fire the puck from sharp angles or by quickly swinging his way around the net with a wraparound attempt and working in the open space that was given to him by the defence more often than attacking into the middle through traffic.

Burcar’s blend of power and finesse made him Forest Green’s most productive player, finishing the event with 7 points in 4 games. He was extremely difficult to contain when he was attacking downhill between the dots, using his size and speed in tangent to side-step opponents and utilize his reach to keep the puck away from defenders before making a hard drive to the net for a chance in tight. His strong shooting mechanics make him a threat to score from everywhere in the offensive, as he possesses the ability to get hard and accurate shots off from a standstill or in motion. His off-puck positioning was quite strong as well, as he was consistently able to get himself into loose pockets of space in the offensive zone and fire off quick shots from dangerous areas.

There is an argument to be made that Gavin Burcar was the top player for the Chicago Mission in their loss. Moving around the ice with a high degree of power and control with the puck, he slipped between gaps and powered his way around opponents nicely to get into open ice to make a play. He made some nice moves walking off the half-wall with quick hands and a powerful series of crossovers to shield the puck along with power his way around the defender. Generating chances for himself throughout the game, he did a nice job at creating chances for his team in moments where the Reapers were clogging up the middle of the ice. He had a good chance on the powerplay as he stayed strong on the puck, showing off a heavy stick to endure pokes and other plays from his opponents, ultimately pulling the puck around the goaltender in tight for a good look that nearly converted. He carried the puck effectively as well, quick to get going and once again showing strength and power as he slipped his way between coverage and worked around the ice with checkers on his shoulder. Lots of projectable skills were put on display from Burcar here, showing off his speed, power, and skill.

Burcar had himself another great game. Early on, he made a standout play with a beautiful, unexpected pass in the offensive zone that found a wide-open teammate on the far wing. His zone entries were a major strength throughout the game, he consistently shielded the puck well and gained the zone with ease. At times, he used his speed to drive wide and fire off a dangerous shot on goal. Other times, he challenged defenders one-on-one, attacking with confidence and looking to take the puck straight to the net.

Burcar was outstanding in this game, playing a crucial role in Chicago’s offensive attack despite not appearing on the scoresheet. Early on, he used quick stick checks to catch defenders off guard, creating a couple of quality scoring chances for himself. His passing was equally impressive, as he delivered sharp, precise feeds to the slot, proving especially effective in tight spaces. He also excelled along the boards, using his strength and awareness to maintain possession. At times, he smartly carried the puck behind the net to buy himself extra time and space to make plays. He was also unafraid to drive the puck to the net, generating opportunities for both himself and his teammates.

Burcar’s speed and skill was lethal and the opposing team had a really hard time dealing with him when he was on the ice; but what really stood out was how intelligently he utilized his offensive abilities. Instead of simply dumping the puck in, he consistently attacked defenders head-on, using his agility to create opportunities. His great pace of play really helped the Mission get into the offensive zone and create good scoring chances. Burcar was also great on the boards and was not afraid to get physical with opponents. He showed no hesitation in getting to the front of the net, a fearless move that ultimately led to his goal. His sharp instincts and alertness allowed him to react quickly, anticipating the play and positioning himself perfectly to capitalize on the loose puck.

Coming out of this game with one assist, I thought Burcar had flashes of what makes him such a highly regarded player. He had a couple of impressive solo rushes up the ice that showcased his great mix of size and speed and allowed him to side-step opponents on his way into the offensive zone using his length to extend from side-to-side keeping the puck out of reach of defenders stick checks. He delivered strong passes from the perimeter that set up some dangerous looks around the net including a nice backdoor feed from the corner that bounced off his teammates stick for what I thought was a sure goal.

While the shift-by-shift consistency was still an issue for me in this game, the highs for Burcar here were among the best in this entire game, propelling him to a three-point performance. He opened up this game with a bang by corralling a bad pass in his skates off the rush, kicking it up to his tick and slipping a backhand pass from below the goal line which lead to a goal. Not too long after that he got a goal of his own thanks to some smart off-puck positioning, putting himself at the backdoor to tap in a loose puck that came his way. His shooting mechanics were on full display on his second goal of the game when he burst into the zone on a two on one and fired a heavy and accurate snapshot through the goaltender’s five hole for his teams seventh goal of the first half. He had a great sequence late in the half as well when he was able to build up speed in the neutral zone, retrieve a loose puck in the offensive zone in full stride and overpowered a defender with a drive to the net where he drew a penalty.

While the shift-by-shift consistency was still an issue for me in this game, the highs for Burcar here were among the best in this entire game, propelling him to a three-point performance. He opened up this game with a bang by corralling a bad pass in his skates off the rush, kicking it up to his tick and slipping a backhand pass from below the goal line which lead to a goal. Not too long after that he got a goal of his own thanks to some smart off-puck positioning, putting himself at the backdoor to tap in a loose puck that came his way. His shooting mechanics were on full display on his second goal of the game when he burst into the zone on a two on one and fired a heavy and accurate snapshot through the goaltender’s five hole for his teams seventh goal of the first half. He had a great sequence late in the half as well when he was able to build up speed in the neutral zone, retrieve a loose puck in the offensive zone in full stride and overpowered a defender with a drive to the net where he drew a penalty.

Burcar was his team’s most productive forward in this game picking up two goals and an assist while playing a strong power game below the dots. Both his goals came from strong off-puck positioning by getting into space and firing quick snapshots that found the back of the net before the goaltender knew what had happened. As a puck carrier through the neutral zone I thought he was getting mixed results, often trying to do too much and skating himself into congested areas which gave him limited options. He was at his best when he would utilize hiss strength to attack wide, dip his shoulder and make a strong cut towards the net.

Burcar was his team’s most productive forward in this game picking up two goals and an assist while playing a strong power game below the dots. Both his goals came from strong off-puck positioning by getting into space and firing quick snapshots that found the back of the net before the goaltender knew what had happened. As a puck carrier through the neutral zone I thought he was getting mixed results, often trying to do too much and skating himself into congested areas which gave him limited options. He was at his best when he would utilize hiss strength to attack wide, dip his shoulder and make a strong cut towards the net.