TRUST FROM COACHES ALLOWING KOZAK TO GROW IN CONFIDENCE
Dec 1, 2022By Suzie Cool
“We believe Tyson Kozak has a has a great future in our organization,” stated Rochester Americans head coach Seth Appert when asked about the young rookie.
Kozak might be one of the most underrated players on the Amerks roster this season. Even Appert admitted that as he continued his conversation about what the rookie is doing for the team this season.
“He (Kozak) doesn't get talked about as much as some of the other rookie forwards because of their offensive prowess, but he's going to produce a lot of offense as he continues to grow. He did in Portland. He's going to eventually here as well because he's a winning hockey player.”
After being drafted last summer, Kozak went on to complete his third full season with the Portland Winterhawks (WHL), tallying 69 points on 32 goals and 37 assists. Kozak spent much of the 2021-22 campaign playing the role as a top-line center while appearing in 66 games and transforming his game to being more of an “offensive-minded” forward rather than defensive.
We can see that with the physical style of play that Kozak has brought with him to the American Hockey League, making the rookie seem as if he plays with the style of an “old school” hockey player.
“He wins face-offs, he wins puck battles, he hits, he plays good defense, he can penalty kill, and he blocks shots. I really like where his game is at,” continued Appert when discussing Kozak’s style of play.
This season, Kozak has appeared in every game with Rochester so far, posting three points on one goal and two assists. Kozak’s first AHL tally came on Oct. 21 against the Syracuse Crunch when the rookie slipped the puck between the pads of Crunch goaltender Max Lagace to open the scoring in the first frame.
“I think it's been decent so far,” said Kozak when asked how he thought his first season in the pros was going. “It’s a pretty hard adjustment. I’m used to playing guys that are like maybe two, three years older than me, not potentially 10 to 15 years.”
“I’m definitely trying to be more physical. I think that's a big part of being able to protect the puck against some of these big strong guys,” continued Kozak when talking about the adjustments he’s made to his game since joining Rochester this season.
Whatever adjustments Kozak needed to make, he’s done so, and the rookie has done it in a way that has earned the trust of Appert and staff. Kozak is seeing time on the penalty kill, he’s on the ice for pulled goaltender situations and he’s in the games for massive minutes night in and night out.
Impressive for a 19-year-old that’s in the midst of his first year in the pros.
“He's (Kozak) a 19-year-old center that's playing pretty big minutes almost every night now,” explained Appert when asked what Kozak’s efforts have earned him on the ice. “In the last couple of weeks, he’s earned that trust to be out there in pulled goalie situations where we're protecting a one goal lead and that isn’t easy to do.”
While Kozak continues to grow, so, too, does the trust that Appert has in him and his game. With confidence, Kozak believes he’ll begin to see more offensive production.
“Confidence is a big thing. I've been talking to the coaches and I just need to keep gaining more confidence with the puck and try to make more plays to make things happen offensively.”