Erie Otters General Manager Sherry Bassin announced today that forward Andre Burakovsky, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, has officially committed to the team. Burakovsky will enter a standard player’s agreement with the Otters for the upcoming OHL season.

PHOTO CREDIT - OttersHockey.com

Erie - August 22, 2013 - Erie Otters General Manager Sherry Bassin announced today that forward Andre Burakovsky, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, has officially committed to the team. Burakovsky will enter a standard player’s agreement with the Otters for the upcoming OHL season.

“It’s a great day for Erie Otter hockey,” General Manager Sherry Bassin said. “We are pleased and excited to announce that Andre Burakovsky is committed to play with the Erie Otters. He is a very special talent and a key addition to help lead the Otters to a successful season.”

Burakovsky is a 6’1”, 180-pound winger who will join the Otters for the 2013-14 OHL season. The native of Klagenfurt, Austria, recorded four goals and seven assists in 43 games with Malmo of the Allsvenskan Swedish league and also tallied four goals and one assist in five games with Sweden at the U-18 World Championships last season. In 2012, Burakovsky helped Sweden to a silver medal at the U-18 World Championships along with Erie Otters goaltender Oscar Dansk.

“We are pleased to have Andre join our hockey club,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He is an elite player with exceptional skill. Andre will complement our forward group and add to our scoring punch.”

Burakovsky was drafted 23rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2013 National Hockey League Draft. His father, former NHLer Robert Burakovsky, was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1985 and played 23 games for the Ottawa Senators in 1993-94.