The temperatures are dropping, and for many, the arrival of winter signals the start of a semi-hibernation.

Not so for forward Cal Burke, whose past few weeks have marked milestone after milestone. Recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights for a six-game stint, Burke scored his first NHL goal in a 6-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on November 23.

“It was a cool game up in Montreal. They have a really exciting, hostile crowd, so it was really loud,” said Burke. “Honestly, it was just fun, I was getting an opportunity to play. It was kind of a weird play. I got in on the forecheck and cycled down below the net, and [Ivan Barbashev] made a great pass to me and I scored. It was a surreal moment. Kind of a culmination of a career’s worth of work in one moment. It was a really cool moment and it was a great experience.”

Burke, a native of Boxborough, Massachusetts, grew up cheering against the Canadiens. So, was there any extra motivation to score against a former hometown rival?

“Scoring against Montreal wasn’t my first thought on the play,” he admitted. “But obviously growing up, the Boston-Montreal games were super exciting with that rivalry. So for sure, that part of it was great. I think it was also just a cool place to do it because it’s so historic and the fans are so passionate about hockey.”

His most recent NHL accomplishment came right on the heels of a far greater one: Burke and his wife welcomed their second child to the family in early November. He even joked that there might have been some ‘new dad strength’ at play on the goal.

“But, for real, I think ‘dad strength’ just comes from the extra motivation,” Burke said. “You have another kid that you need to take care of. As much as I want to play well and do well for myself and my teammates, I also want to play well for [my children]. I think it’s knowing that there’s another kid to provide for, and you want to make them proud. I think there’s some truth to it.”

“We love our first, and to have a second is such a blessing. Having two kids now is a blast. My wife and I have always been the kind of people that have wanted a big family, so having another kid felt right. I feel like it helps fulfill our family. It’s been exciting and fun trying to manage the kids and hockey all at the same time. But we’re so fortunate that everyone’s happy and healthy.”

Burke credits the support and love of his family to much of the success that he’s enjoyed in his hockey career. That made it extra fitting that his father, Garrett Burke, was able to attend the Montreal-Vegas matchup and see his first NHL goal in person.

“My dad, he was my coach growing up and he’s been there for every step along the way,” said Burke. “That was the first game this year that he was able to attend, actually. So the timing worked out perfectly, that he got to be there. It just made it really special afterwards to be able to see him. I gave him the puck that I scored. Kind of a full circle moment.”

Despite what Burke has personally accomplished this month, he remains focused on what the entire team can achieve over this next stretch of road games before the Christmas break.

“I don’t think our record reflects what this team is capable of doing,” he acknowledged. “We’ve had to change the lineup pretty often because of callups and injuries – it’s hard to get in a rhythm. I’m excited now that we have almost our whole team back. It’s a chance to prove ourselves.”

“Sometimes I think it’s good for a team to go on the road like this. Distraction is the wrong word, but when you’re on the road there’s only one thing to do. Rest and play hockey. I think that can be good in resetting and getting in a rhythm there. I think it will be easier going into the Christmas break. I think it’s just that we want to have a consistent road trip. We’re playing the way we want to.”