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Michigan State Hockey Commitment: 2009 forward Gavin Burcar announces he is a Spartan

lfVAJbe8_400x400by: Jeremy Dewar08/02/25JD_Jerbear
Michigan State hockey coach Adam Nightingale coaches his Spartans against U-M, Saturday, March 23, 2024, during the first period of the Big Ten hockey championship at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing - Matthew Dae Smith, USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State hockey coach Adam Nightingale coaches his Spartans against U-M, Saturday, March 23, 2024, during the first period of the Big Ten hockey championship at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing - Matthew Dae Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 1 is an important day in the college hockey world, marking when rising juniors can announce their verbal commitments to college programs. With the rule change to NCAA hockey this past fall, allowing players from the CHL Major Junior hockey in Canada to play NCAA hockey, we are experiencing our first Aug. 1 period where CHL players and young players intending to play NCAA hockey can make their decisions known.

With this being the first year, there are a lot of unknowns of who will commit early, and who will wait their options out. Today, we saw the Spartans gain the commitment of a 2009-born player, who has already announced intentions to play in the WHL next season (Spokane Chiefs) with California native and forward Gavin Burcar announcing his commitment to Michigan State and head coach Adam Nightingale.

Burcar, who grew up playing for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, was a 2024 first-round WHL USA Draft selection by the Prince Albert Raiders, and this past spring had his rights traded to the Spokane Chiefs, a team he subsequently signed with for next season. During the 2024-2025 season, Burcar billeted in Chicago, playing for one of the top AAA programs in the country the Chicago Mission, a program that has produced current MSU senior defensemen Matt Basgall, and MSU commit Jack Hextall. Burcar did not struggle moving up in AAA competition, as he still posted 22 goals and 30 assists in 63 games played this past season.

Burcar is a well-rounded forward who plays a full “200-foot” game, not losing his defensive responsibility in the pursuit of offense. Burcar possesses a quick acceleration in his skating allowing him to beat defensemen wide, and transition offense quickly.

When he gets to a shooting position, Burcar has quick hands and a snap release that allows him to combine that with his power to shield opponents to generate scoring opportunities. The 2025-2026 campaign will be a big transition year for Burcar to jump to the WHL and I would expect he spends at least two full seasons in the league before possibly arriving at MSU at the earliest in the fall of 2027.