VIDEO INTERVIEW: Hood Reflects on Rookie Season, Looks Ahead to NHL Draft

Vancouver, B.C. – Not long after Burke Hood‘s rookie season in the Western Hockey League came to an end, the Brandon, Manitoba native would get an opportunity he had never had before: representing Canada on the international stage.

“I got the original phone call during my exit meeting,” Hood said. “I just felt my phone buzzing in my pocket and then I get out and I had a text saying ‘this is the goalie coach, call me.’ So I called him on my way back…and he was like ‘We’re going to invite you to the U18 World Championship.’ From there, I was kind of in shock. I called my parents. They were super happy. And I was really looking forward to the experience.”

Although he was the third goalie, Hood said it was really cool to not only to win gold, but to do so with two Giants teammates: forward Cameron Schmidt and defenceman Ryan Lin.

“I came in not really knowing anyone except for Lin and Schmidt, so it was great to have them there, especially at the start,” Hood said. “It sucked not playing, but I was super happy to be there. Happy to support my country. Celebrating with the guys was great after. Just going on the ice and being with the team that battled the whole tournament. It was a really cool experience.”

Playing for Canada surely helped Hood’s draft stock. Although he wasn’t invited to the NHL combine (only 90 prospects were), he said most of the conversations he had with NHL teams took place after he got back from the tournament in Texas.

“I think a lot of the goalie guys try to do it after the season,” he said, which was no different for him. “Until May, I didn’t think about the draft at all.”

Hood is the 15th ranked North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting on their final list, up 10 spots from his mid-term ranking.

He was named the WHL Goaltender of the Week twice in the second half of the season and finished the year T-5th in the WHL in overall save percentage among goalies with 25 or more games played (.910). The rookie netminder had a .923 save percentage in 30 appearances since Dec. 1, with a 16-9-3 record. According to SportLogiq, Hood ranked third in the WHL in Goals Saved Above Expected (20.7), which factors in the quality of shots he faced.

“The one word that comes to my mind is excitement,” Hood said when asked about the upcoming entry draft. “Been looking forward to it my whole life. Obviously it would be a dream come true if I do get drafted.”

When the draft takes place on June 27 and 28, the 18-year-old will be tuning in from his Brandon home with family.