Clutch performances, a reliable work ethic, a sense of humour and a true pride in doing the best job possible, on and off the ice, every single day: That’s what a coach can expect with Ethan Burroughs on their roster. It’s little wonder that Attack interim Head Coach Darren Rumble called Burroughs “the perfect human” last weekend after a challenging 5-2 loss to the Brantford Bulldogs where #29 notched the only two goals for the team. Could this fuel the best nickname ever?  I doubt it. Burroughs is far too humble to let the spotlight shine solely on him. Ask him about his skills and he’ll be quick to point out the team effort required to make every play. We caught up with the talented over-ager after practice on Tuesday to talk about sushi, spelling bees, wearing the A and his goals for the future.

Thanks for doing this Ethan after a busy weekend. You had one whole day off. What do you do on a day like that?

It really depends on the day, because sometimes we don’t get back home until late. Yesterday, for example, we all went to Yummy Yummy for lunch. We do that a lot (laughs). Usually, you just get some extra rest at home, we’ll go for lunch together, and then maybe have some TV or XBOX time or whatever.

You’re top five for the team in both points (9) and goals (4) so far this season, but perhaps more importantly you’ve been able to step up and score at key times this year, like your OT winner over the Erie Otters a few weeks ago. You had a 4-point night with a goal and 3 assists. What’s been clicking for you so far?

I think partly it’s the guys I’ve been playing with (laughs). A lot of the time it’s just about getting to the right spot where those guys can find you. Overall, it’s about trusting my ability and the team’s ability to do what we can do. And also the training I put in through the summer helps. Just knowing how much work I put in and being able to trust that process is what’s helped me so far this season.

Where were you training over the summer?

I work out in Oakville at Limitless Training Systems in the summer. There’s a bunch of NHL guys and some AHL guys who work out there too. Then I skate with my skating coach, Paul Matheson, and work with my skills coach Josh Wrobel a lot. We do that a couple of times a week. Then it’s just trying to find more ice time to keep working on my skills.

And then were you able to find some time over the summer to have fun?

Yes, I was fortunate enough to golf a lot this summer. I’ve got a lot of friends that play a lot. I got to see lots of family and hit some cottages here and there. I was able to go to Nashville for the draft since Mack Guzda lives there and he always has a couple of guys out each year.

What was that like? To be there for Colby?

It was so cool. I never really got to experience the draft for myself so just to see what it’s like was awesome.  And being there for Colby and supporting him was fun. It was just so cool to hear his name called.

During your career with the Attack, you’ve been asked to play many roles with the team. As a player, how do you adjust your play to what the coaching staff is asking of you?

I feel like I can play anywhere on the ice. So just depending what’s going on in the game, you do what you’re asked to. It’s all mental. If you’re down a goal going into the last five minutes, you know you’ve got to play your best offense out there. But, if up and there’s not much time left, then my job is to help shut them down. Really, it’s just knowing where to be on the ice and listening to the coaches, obviously.

In the loss to Brantford on Saturday, you had the only two Attack goals on the scoresheet and both were assisted by Colby Barlow. I know there’s still some shuffling of lines going on, but what’s it like to play alongside Colby?

Oh, it’s awesome. Playing with him and Deni, they’re both super skilled. It’s awesome playing with them. They get the puck to you and they both work really hard. You just have to get to the right area and you know they’ll always be in the right areas, too. They make it very easy to play with them.

They’ve been still shuffling lines a lot. But do you have high hopes that maybe that one might stick?

I’ll play with anyone for sure. But it’s nice to play those two, especially with Deni since we’ve been playing together for a while now. And well Colby is Colby so… (laughs).

As one of the most-experienced players in the room right now, how does the team regroup and move on after a weekend like this weekend?

It’s just getting back in the groove at practice right away. That’s got a lot to do with it.  Obviously, you have to have a short memory. Yes, it’s sucks that we lost all three of those games, but we just have to turn it around this weekend. We have to keep everyone positive in the room and work hard at practice. That’s where good habits are created. So it’s just building off those habits and turning it around right away.

Interim Head Coach Darren Rumble called you the perfect human this weekend. That’s some high praise. What unique qualities do you think you bring to this team on and off the ice?

I just try to me myself. I was raised by some good parents and I have a great family. I just try to be myself, to be nice and to make guys laugh in the room. I try to work hard every day, in the gym, in the room, and on the ice. I try to lead by example and, as the years go by, I’ve been a bit more vocal in my leadership. I’ve learned from some great guys before me so I’m just trying to do all those little things.

After four years in the league, what advice do you have for the rookies in the room?

It flies by. I remember my first-year guys telling me that it flew by for them and I’ve just kind of been realizing now how true that is. It’s my last season in the OHL and it has flown by.  You have to enjoy it and work hard. If you’re not having fun, then really what’s the point? You just have to come to the rink every day ready to go. I know it can be hard for guys in their first year, not getting as much ice time as they’d like. I experienced it too. You just have to stick to the plan and be patient.

You are on an incredible overage lineup this year with Sam Sedley and Deni Goure. How would you rank this OA trio among those in the league?

Sam and Deni are amazing players. Just to be able to play with them for my whole career here has been amazing. We’ve got a good group of over-agers for sure.

What’s your best Sam Sedley and your best Deni Goure story?

(Laughs). I’ll do both of them together. Last year, we did a spelling bee on the bus and we were doing like grade six spelling and they were just getting some crazy words wrong. I mean very simple words. We were all laughing our heads off.  All those crazy moments bring us together and it’s pretty funny.

What’s the most important quality you value in a teammate?

I think being able to enjoy my time with them. We have so many good guys in that room right now. It’s easy to hang out with any of them. They make it enjoyable to come to the rink every day and that’s something special we have.

How did you get your start in the game?

I started skating when I was three and started playing hockey when I was four. I grew up playing in Georgetown and Halton. I played for the Halton Hurricanes for my entire minor hockey career. I pretty much stuck with the same group of guys and that made it a lot of fun growing up together.

What’s your earliest and favourite hockey memory?

Probably going for slushies after the game. And hockey tournaments and playing mini sticks in the hallways. It was always super, super fun.

Some of your original Halton Hills teammates were here the other night weren’t they?

Yes, Lawson Sherk plays for the Brantford Bulldogs and I played with him my entire like life pretty much. And the goalie Matteo Drobac was there for our minor midget year. I keep in touch with a lot of the guys from minor hockey and there are still a bunch of us playing.

What’s it like when you play each other? Are you harder or easier on each other? Is there some chirping going on?

I go hard no matter what, but yeah, maybe I’ll hit them a little bit extra actually (laughs). And obviously I’ll throw some chirps their way for sure.

What do you love most about Owen Sound, other than Yummy Yummy?

Well obviously, yes, a shout out to Yummy Yummy. We’ve probably gone there once a week or so for the last three years (laughs). So that and just being able to hang out with the guys. It’s obviously a smaller town in the OHL, and just being able to hang out with the guys a lot and just enjoy time with them has been awesome.

Do you think teams in these smaller markets are different?

I do think it brings us together a bit more. In the bigger cities, obviously some people might be spread out and can’t see each other as much. Here I can drive to everyone’s billet house in five or 10 minutes so we hang out a lot. I think it’s brought us closer together.

What do you love most about playing at the Bayshore?

The fans make it so much fun. They’re always loud. You’ve got all the kids at the tunnel waiting for high fives. Obviously, it’s a smaller arena so it fills right up. And the opposing teams don’t like coming to play here so that makes it fun too.

You’re part of the leadership group for this Attack squad. What does wearing the A mean to you?

It’s a huge honour. We’ve got a bunch of great leaders in that room. Everyone in that room could wear a letter. I think for me being a leader is about working hard every day on and off the ice and being vocal in the room to support everyone.

What are you goals for the rest of the season?

I just want to do the best I can personally and for us as a team. I really want to win a championship here and I think we have the group to do that. So I just want to try and turn this little slump around for us and just keep building off of that.

What do you really think this team can achieve?

It’s definitely a marathon and not a sprint. I really do think we have a really talented, hard-working group here. So, I think that if we keeps things together here, we could make a really good run at it.

What are your goals for your hockey career, with this being your last year in the league.

I really want to play pro. That’s been my goal ever since I came to this league.  My goal is just to do the best I can here, work hard each and every day and try to get that pro contract.

You’re an ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood. What do you want people to know about the importance of that?

I got involved with Andrew Perrott who was here and then got traded in my third year. I had seen the kind of things he did for them to promote giving blood. And that’s why I do it. There are so many people out there in need of a donor so I’m just trying to promote it. I’m trying to get out there and get as many people as I can to give blood to help as many people as possible.

Your mom is a bit of a celebrity at the Bayshore. In fact, she’s the very first person I met when I started shooting the team. Her pride in you is infectious. How has the support of your family made a difference in your hockey career so far?

Oh, it’s huge. My mom and my dad try to make it to as many games as possible. It’s so nice to know how much they care about me and support me and how proud they are of me and just to be able to talk to them after each and every game. My brother’s also a huge, huge presence for me. He’s at school now so he can’t make it to as many games but he’s always texting me after games, you know giving me advice and telling me what I was good and bad at in my game. Just knowing how much they love me is so important.

What’s your favourite pump up music?

I’m kind of rap or EDM guy. Those two get you going for a game. I’m more of a country music guy really but that’s not really pre-game music.

What’s one talent you wish you had?

I play the guitar a bit but I wish I was more talented—which obviously comes with work. So maybe just being better at the guitar.

What’s the best advice you ever been given?

Just to enjoy the ride. Put in the work and enjoy it. It flies by, so you might as well enjoy it.

Do you have an NHL player you’d like to model your play after?

Nolan Seed game me this one … Jonathan Marchessault. He says that we look super similar on the ice. So I like to watch his clips and learn as much as I can from him.

What’s your favourite pre-game meal?

Chicken with rice and salad.

What’s your favourite post-game meal?

We had salmon with rice and veggies in Kitchener last week. I know that’s super healthy but it was really good so I’m going with that.

Thanks so much Ethan.

Thanks for doing this!