Callahan Burke

Lore & Background

Burke played three seasons at Noble and Greenough School before joining the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, where he served as team captain in his second full season. He then played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame, serving as team captain as a senior and earning the B1G Sportsmanship Award twice. He went undrafted and began his professional career with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL in 2020. Burke made his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche on December 7, 2022, in a 4–0 loss to the Boston Bruins. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in October 2023 and made his debut with them against his former club, the Avalanche. On July 2, 2024, Burke signed a one-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. He debuted for Vegas on November 20, 2024, in a 3–0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and three days later scored his first NHL goal in a 6–2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. After the 2024–25 season, the Golden Knights did not re-sign him, and he later signed an AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls.

Reader's Guide

Burke's time with the Vegas Golden Knights was brief but marked a personal milestone: his first NHL goal. Signed as a free agent on July 2, 2024, he debuted for the team on November 20, 2024, playing just under 10 minutes in a shutout loss. Three days later, on November 23, 2024, he scored against Montreal's Sam Montembeault in a 6–2 victory, recording his first career NHL goal. He was not re-signed by the Golden Knights following the 2024–25 season, becoming a free agent. His tenure with Vegas represents the third NHL organization for which he played, following the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes. Burke's path to the NHL was unconventional: he went undrafted, spent multiple seasons in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, and earned call-ups through steady two-way play. His first NHL goal with Vegas stands as the highlight of his time with the franchise.

Did You Know?

• Burke scored his first NHL goal on November 23, 2024, against Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens.
• He served as team captain for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL and for Notre Dame in his senior season.
• Burke made his NHL debut on December 7, 2022, with the Colorado Avalanche against the Boston Bruins.
• He was traded from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Caleb Jones on October 10, 2023.

Collegiate Career at Notre Dame

Burke committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after two productive seasons in the USHL. As a freshman in 2016-17, he filled a depth forward role, contributing 3 goals and 11 points in 35 games before an injury cut short the Hockey East quarterfinals series against Providence. His sophomore year in 2017-18 brought a larger offensive role as the Irish transitioned to the Big Ten, and he responded with a career-best 14 goals for 26 points in 38 games. On December 9, 2017, he recorded his first career hat-trick, leading the Irish to a 6-2 victory over Wisconsin—the first Notre Dame hat-trick since Steven Fogarty in 2015. He also scored against Michigan to help secure a Frozen Four berth. In 2018-19, he set a career high with 30 points, tied for the team lead in goals with 12, and helped claim a second consecutive Big Ten title while earning the B1G Sportsmanship Award. As a senior captain in 2019-20, he tallied 21 points in 37 games, won a second B1G Sportsmanship Award, and made the Lowes Senior Class All-American First Team.

Professional Journey & NHL Milestones

Burke entered professional hockey as an undrafted free agent, signing a one-year deal with the Colorado Eagles on March 18, 2020. The pandemic-delayed 2020-21 season brought his pro debut in a 3-2 loss to San Diego on February 13, 2021, followed by his first pro goal against Bakersfield in April. He finished that rookie year with 2 goals and 9 points in 33 games, establishing himself as a two-way check forward. His 2021-22 season brought increased production—14 points in his first 19 games earned him a one-year NHL contract with the Avalanche in December. Though he remained with the Eagles, he finished with 26 points in 57 games. His first NHL recall arrived on December 6, 2022, and he debuted the next day on the fourth line in a 4-0 loss to his boyhood club, the Boston Bruins. After a trade to Carolina in October 2023, he briefly suited up for the Hurricanes before returning to Colorado. In July 2024, he signed with Vegas, where on November 23, 2024, he scored his first career NHL goal against Sam Montembeault in a 6-2 win over Montreal.

Early Development & Amateur Career

Burke's hockey roots trace back to Dedham, Massachusetts, where he attended Noble and Greenough School. Over three seasons from 2011 to 2014, he developed into a key contributor, serving as team captain in 2013-14 and finishing with 89 points across 83 games. That same year, he was selected 50th overall in the USHL Futures Draft by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, appearing in five games to close out his prep career. His first full USHL season in 2014-15 produced 20 goals and 40 points in 60 games. He returned for a second year in 2015-16 as team captain, posting 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 56 games, ranking fourth on the squad in scoring. These two seasons in the USHL established him as a reliable offensive forward before he made the leap to NCAA hockey at Notre Dame, where he would go on to earn All-American honors.

Family & Personal Life

Burke was born on March 24, 1997, to Sharon and Garrett Burke. His father, Garrett, played collegiate hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell from 1988 to 1990, giving the family a multi-generational connection to the sport. Callahan has two younger brothers, Cam and C.J. The hockey lineage continued within the family as Cam also played collegiate hockey at Notre Dame with the Fighting Irish before transferring to Boston College for the 2022-23 season. Growing up in the Dedham, Massachusetts area, Burke's early exposure to competitive hockey at Noble and Greenough laid the groundwork for a career that would span the USHL, NCAA, AHL, and NHL. His journey as an undrafted free agent who worked his way through the Colorado Eagles system before earning NHL opportunities with the Avalanche, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights reflects a path shaped by perseverance rather than early recognition.