Where the love for Cal Burke?

CEDAR RAPIDS – There's love and respect out there for you, Cal Burke. Even if you're having a hard time finding it at the moment.

For one thing, your coach loves what you do. Mark Carlson speaks highly of his first-year forward, the way he's a responsible player and can be trusted in all situations.

No question the Boston native's hockey future is bright, with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and beyond. Though he's taken some personal hits lately.

After scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Bloomington last week, a local website referred to him in a headline and throughout its story by the wrong last name. It was an honest mistake.

But you really wonder why Burke isn't participating in next week's United States Hockey League/National Hockey League Prospects Game. Six RoughRiders were deservedly extended invitations, but he wasn't one of them.

'Yes,” Carlson said, flatly, when asked if Burke belonged. 'But let me stress that I am not knocking the selection process.”

The coach said he nominated Burke for the game, which is Tuesday night at Dubuque (televised live by KCRG-9.2) and features 41 players eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft. He just wasn't picked by a panel of NHL scouts, team personnel and NHL Central Scouting.

That's hard to figure since Burke was on Central Scouting's preseason watch list of draft-eligible players. The Notre Dame commit has had a good rookie season in the USHL, scoring 11 goals and 19 points in 30 games.

'It's all right,” insisted Burke, whose Riders beat Team USA, 4-2, Friday night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. 'I mean, I was a little disappointed at first, but, in the end, all that stuff really won't matter. It's all about how I'm going to play in the upcoming 30 games. I'm just going to use it as motivation to help me prove everyone wrong, that I should have been there. Prove to the NHL scouts that I can play. But, really, it's not about that, as much as it's about helping our team do well. That outside noise doesn't matter.”

Burke said Carlson has told him not to get down or lose confidence in his abilities.

'I think I've had a good start to the season,” he said. 'I think I've definitely been playing well, but I think the next 30 games, I'll play even better. I think I'll continue to get better. I know I'm a lot better now at Game 30 than I was at Game 1.”

Burke, 17, said he patterns his game after Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins. His younger brother, Cam, also recently committed to Notre Dame.

Cam Burke plays prep school hockey and is eligible to be drafted into the USHL this summer. Speaking of being drafted, Cal Burke still hopes a NHL team will nab him – Prospects Game snub or not.

He's got a chip on his shoulder now.

'I don't want to sound mean or anything, but I think having an eff you mentality is kind of a good thing,” he said. 'It can definitely help you out. I know there are a lot of different possible scenarios, but I definitely hope to get drafted in the summer. Even if I don't, it gives me another opportunity to say eff you and make it after that.”

The RoughRiders improved to 23-8 (league-high 46 standings points), getting goals from Erik Foley, Dylan McLaughlin (short handed), Jiri Fronk and Andrew Gaus. Winning goalie Ben Blacker made 21 saves.

The teams play again Saturday night at The Stable at approximately 7:05.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com