By Dan Marshall

Clippers Burman and Crozier up for BCHL awards

Feb 22, 2018 | 10:39 AM

NANAIMO — Success has been following the Nanaimo Clippers around these days.
 
The club is on a nine game winning streak, they’re part of a three way tie for first place in the Island Division, and two of the key players in the team’s recent success are up for major BCHL Awards.
 
On Wednesday the league announced that Taz Burman is up for the BCHL’s Top Goaltender award and Max Crozier is one of three finalists for the Top Defenseman.
 
The Clippers haven’t boasted a top goalie since 2005 when Sebastien Nolet won the honour.
 
Matt Irwin was Nanaimo’s last winner of the top prize for defensemen when he won back to back in 2007 and 2008.
 
Current Clippers Coach Darren Naylor says both Burman and Crozier are deserving of the recognition.
 
“Well deserving and definitely a big reward for both of those guys.  I think they could both take those awards,” said Naylor. 
 
Burman is up against former Clipper Evan DeBrouwer who’s now playing in Prince George, and Vernon Vipers netminder Ty Taylor.
 
Burman doesn’t have the best numbers in any one individual goaltending statistic but his numbers are solid across the board.
 
The Clippers 20-year-old veteran isn’t dwelling on the possibility of an individual honour he’s enjoying team success and wants to have that continue into the post season.
 
“We’re in a division with some quality teams, but we’re also a quality team. It’s going to be a real dogfight in the playoffs. Hopefully after this year I can look back on a long successful run with a good group of guys,” explained Burman.
 

It’s been a year of accolades for Max Crozier.
 
He’s ranked 115th among North American skaters for the NHL draft, he’s committed to Providence College in the NCAA, Crozier was picked for the CJHL Prospects Game, and also had an invitation to the Team Canada West selection camp for the World Junior A Challenge.
 
Crozier is up against Langley’s Colin Bernard and Wenatchee blueliner Cooper Zech for the Top Defenseman award.
 
The 17-year-old rookie says he wouldn’t be a finalist without the hard work of his teammates.
 
“It’s super humbling, it’s a huge honour,” said Crozier. “We’re on a roll right now and obviously good things happen to players on good teams. I’ve really got to credit the rest of the team.” 
 
To be recognized as one of league’s top rearguards as a rookie is extremely rare but Crozier has proven time and again over the course of the season that he’s a special player

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The most likely Clipper award winner is Burman.
 
There’s no clear cut winner among the goalies nominated but Burman is a player who catches your attention on a regular basis and may lead the BCHL in causing shooters frustration.
 
Crozier will be a dark horse among the Dmen because of the impressive numbers put up by Zech of the Wild.
 
Not only is he the top scoring defenseman in the league, as of Thursday he’s second overall in points in the entire BCHL.
 
Nanaimo has had no luck in winning major awards in the past ten years, that despite impressive players like Sheldon Rempal, Yanni Kaldis, and Guillaume Decelles wearing black and orange.
 
Perhaps Burman and Crozier can end the drought and add some hardware to the Clippers trophy case.
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77