Shawn
Burnett

Defenceman Shawn Burnett is a two-time world championship team member and represented Canada on the Paralympic stage for the first time at Milano Cortina 2026. He was a member of Canada’s gold medal winning team at the 2024 Para ice hockey world championships and took silver in 2025.

Burnett, fluently bilingual, grew up playing hockey in McMasterville, Que. His life was derailed in June 2021 at age 18, when he had a serious skydiving accident that fractured his back and caused a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

He didn’t waste any time returning to the ice and embracing Para ice hockey. He began playing the sport with Parahockey Montréal in September 2021.  He won gold medals in 2022 and 2023 with Team Quebec at the Canadian championships.

Burnett impressed the national team coaching staff with his strong defensive presence, skating strength, physical play, and hockey IQ.

He studied social science at Champlain College Saint-Lambert and received a student bursary for athletic and academic achievement.

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2026 Paralympic Winter Games – 2nd

2025 World Championships – 2nd

2024 World Championships – 1st