There isn’t much Lynn native Katie Burt hasn’t accomplished during her ice hockey career. This week, Burt made room for one more achievement on her resume.
USA Hockey announced that Burt was selected as one of 22 members who’ll play on the
Under-22 Women’s Select Team. The USA Under-22 team will compete in a three-game series against Canada August 16-19 in Calgary.
“Anytime you get to represent the U.S. it’s an honor and a privilege,” Burt, who signed a pro contract with the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League in June, said. “I take a lot of pride in being the best player I can be. It’s great to see that come to fruition in something like this. It’s great to be considered one of the best players in your age group. I’m excited to get started.”
A goalie, Burt played four years of Division I hockey at Boston College. She graduated this past spring from Boston College’s Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences as an economics major.
As a senior in 2017-2018, Burt was a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star honoree, two-time Hockey East Goaltender of the Month and won five Hockey East weekly awards. She started all 38 of Boston College’s games and went 30-5-3 with a 1.95 GAA and .933 save percentage. Burt led the nation with a career-high 1,038 saves during her senior campaign.
She was named the 2018 Female Eagle of the Year at Boston College.
“We’re only a few months out so to look back on it, it still doesn’t feel real,” Burt, 21, said. “I feel like I’m still going back to campus in a few weeks. I think our program at Boston College is so storied. There’s so many people that built our program that came before me and helped me get to where I am. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and all the people that threw the Boston College sweater on before me, that helped make the program what it is today.”
During her four seasons as an Eagle, Burt helped lead the team to four consecutive Hockey East championships, three Beanpots and two Hockey East Tournament crowns. She capped her career as the NCAA career wins leader with 121 victories.
Burt’s one of three Massachusetts natives selected for the USA Under-22 roster. Roslindale’s Caitrin Lonergan and Wayland’s Rebecca Gilmore are also on the team. Lonergan’s a fellow Eagle while Gilmore plays at Harvard. Cayla Barnes will also represent the Eagles on the Under-22 team.
“To see our program be such a big part of USA hockey is awesome,” Burt said. “It shows the hard work that everyone laid down before us. It’s huge for our program.”
Burt’s slated to split the goaltending duties with Maddie Rooney, who helped Team USA win gold at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in February as the starting goalie.
“It’s awesome to just be able to learn from someone who has had a great career at such a young age,” Burt said. “I’ve learned a lot from her so far. She’s awesome. It’s great to be able to be on a team with her and learn from her.”
The Under-22 team was announced after the conclusion of last week’s USA Hockey Women’s National Festival in Lake Placid. Burt was also selected to the Under-22 roster in 2016, and was a member of the Under-18 team in 2014 and 2015.
In her spare time, Burt, who played Lynn Little League and Babe Ruth baseball in her youth, can be found volunteering at Bowzer Complex. Whether it’s helping coach Lynn’s Gallant Tournament team or getting the diamond ready for a game, Burt enjoys staying involved in the community through youth baseball.
“Katie wants to help out and wants to be there,” Lynn Babe Ruth President and Gallant manager Jeff Earp said. “She loves it. She takes the kids to the outfield and tells them what the Gallant’s about. If she thinks they aren’t giving it the respect she’ll ask if she can talk to them. She pounds on the significance of the whole thing and what it means to wear Lynn on your chest.
“Katie has a gift,” Earp, who coached Burt when she played in the Gallant, said. “She really does. She’s a tremendous leader.”
And, from a distance, she’ll root for Lynn as the team resumes Gallant Tournament play Tuesday.
“I threw some batting practice to them and helped out a ton,” Burt said. “It’s awesome to give back. Everything about the Gallant Tournament is awesome. It’s great to see them win, they beat Marblehead (last) Friday. Hopefully they keep the momentum. I’ll be rooting for them and I’m rooting for a little more rain so I can come back home and see them win.”
