A 5-foot, 11-inch, 205-pound native of California, Shane Burns will add size and depth to the Flames' defensive corps.
Spring semester recruit Burns will add depth to DI Flames’ defensive corps
1/6/2026 10:44:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey
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Shane Burns, a former Northstar Christian Academy teammate of Tanner Hunt, will launch his collegiate career at Liberty after returning from Finland.
Bolstering its defensive ranks for the spring semester, Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team received a commitment from a second former Northstar Christian Academy standout just before Christmas. Shane Burns, a powerful defenseman from San Clemente, Calif., who was taking a gap year after playing last season with the Brooks Bandits in the British Columbia Hockey League, flew into Lynchburg, Va., on Friday and joined the Flames for their trip to Finland on Sunday.
"I played in British Columbia and Winnipeg and had that Canadian experience for two years, and now I am excited to play in the U.S. and work with the FCA Hockey coaches again," Burns said. "I visited Liberty in the summer for three days, and I loved it. The campus is unreal, and I am excited to be back in school."
"Shane is a competitor," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "He is a solid puck-moving defenseman who will help add depth to our defensive corps, and he's a great fit for our team on and off the ice."
At 5-feet, 11-inches tall, 205 pounds, Burns is a physical force on the defensive end, having trained under FCA Hockey Representative and Lead On-Ice Instructor Tim Jackman while at Northstar. He patterns his game after NHL defensemen Cale Makar — a former Brooks Bandits player in the Alberta Junior Hockey League now in his seventh season with the Colorado Avalanche — and Radko Gudas, a veteran from Czechoslovakia on the Anaheim Ducks.
"I like to play powerfully, being hard on the puck, making quick decisions, and honestly, I like motivating the boys with hits and making stuff happen on the ice," Burns said.
After growing up playing baseball, football, soccer, and golf in sunny California, just south of Los Angeles, Burns first was introduced to hockey by his grandfather, who had season tickets to see the Ducks.
Shane Burns brings a hard work ethic and physical brand of hockey to the Flames.
"I saw the physicality of the game and how fast it had to be played and wanted to try it," said Burns, who also enjoys fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking in his free time.
While Burns was at Northstar, Jackman — who played in the NHL for seven seasons, including his last three in Anaheim — taught him to play a simple game.
"He told me to try not to do too much, just be a reliable guy," Burns said. "Hockey's hockey, and when it comes down to it, you just have to work hard, play fast, make quick decisions, and be a team player."
For Northstar, between 2021-23, Burns scored 10 goals and distributed 73 assists in 134 games at the 16-and-under and 18-and-under AAA levels.
Last year, he served as a captain for the Steinback Pistons Manitoba Junior Hockey League team, scoring 10 goals and distributing 23 assists in 74 games over two seasons.
"I have been a captain a couple times, and I do like to lead, but my leadership comes into play by my example," Burns said. "I do like to fire up the team (in the locker room) and get everybody ready to play."
He is most hungry for the spiritual growth he will experience at Liberty, surrounded by teammates who will strengthen his faith.
"Playing at Northstar was life-changing, and kind of the same mentality as going to Liberty, having the Christian aspect and playing hockey with other believers," Burns said. "It was definitely a culture shock going from 75 degrees to negative 30 degrees (in Minnesota)."
He is glad to be joining the Flames along with former Northstar teammate Tanner Hunt, who is transferring in from the NAHL's St. Cloud (Minn.) Norsemen.
"That was definitely a major factor, coming to school at the same time as him," said Burns, who has played against a few other Liberty players, including senior forward Michael DeBrito in the MJHL.
While he is undecided about his major field of study at Liberty, he is a certified EMT and knows he wants to continue to serve as a firefighter in the Lynchburg community, as does Flames sophomore forward Brad Barker.
"I am keeping my options open at the moment," said Burns, who has spent the past eight months framing houses in Southern California.
For now, he is looking forward to the opportunity to be a light with his teammates in Finland.
"It'll be a great way to start off my collegiate career, getting to know the boys and being close to them and making a bond," Burns said. "I am also looking forward to playing some hockey and the missionary aspect of spreading the Gospel, working at the churches and doing food drives, anything to help the community."
