An emotional rollercoaster for the Kozak family as son makes his NHL debut against the Jets

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Every once in a while, things happen exactly as expected, just like the parents imagined, fairy tale ending and all.

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That’s what happened this week to Trevor Kozak and Michelle Kozak, the parents of Tyson Kozak.

Three years ago, when Tyson was drafted by Buffalo in the seventh round with the 193rd overall pick, the Kozaks were as proud as a Souris peacock as they watched from afar as their son played in the WHL Portland Winter He became a 30-goal scorer as a junior with the Eagles, then joined the Sabres’ minor league team in Rochester.

Tyson was called up to the NHL for the first time a week ago, skating with the Sabers’ walk-on players as they lost their third and fourth straight games.

On Wednesday, it was mom and dad’s turn to get the call, and a Sabers staff member told them their son would make his NHL debut on Thursday.

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Team he will face: Winnipeg Jets.

“Oh my gosh,” was Michelle’s reaction. “Obviously, we have to root for Tyson, but at the same time you’re like, ‘Go Jets.'” So did a lot of people back home. OK, we’re Jets fans, but…”

Suddenly they had to catch a 7pm flight to Winnipeg. But they had to keep it a secret, especially from their son, since Tyson didn’t know he was competing until Thursday morning’s skate.

Fr Trevor said: “We found out about this on Wednesday morning and had to do our best to keep it as secret as possible.”

“It’s hard not to say anything,” Michelle added. “I swear our whole town knew before Tyson did. We arrived in Buffalo at 2 a.m. Still nothing was said. We had no idea we were staying in the same hotel as Tyson.

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That’s right, Kozak’s entourage — Trevor and his second wife Chanlie, Michelle and her partner Kyle Gosnold, and their daughter Paige — live in Tyson Two floors below is the Marriott hotel, which is connected to the downtown stadium.

No worries unless they happen to bump into each other in the hall or something crazy like that happens.

“Luckily, we met him in the lobby,” Trevor said. “Just when he was heading to the rink in the morning. He was probably as shocked as we were. He was more or less like: ‘What are you doing here?

Here’s what my mom said: “He looked at us, then kept walking, stopped, turned around, looked again, walked back, and was like, ‘What are you doing here?’ We said, ‘You What do you think we’re doing, Tyson? “

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“He said, ‘Well, I don’t know.’ And then it came in: ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to play tonight. “He still has no clue. The team hasn’t told him.

If the story ended there and their son had a lackluster performance that night, win or lose, that would be enough. But this is just the beginning.

First up was the rookie skate, and as per tradition, Tyson did a few pre-race laps on his own.

That’s when all the sacrifices they made and the time they put in culminated for Mom and Dad.

“That’s what the rookie scene is like,” Trevor said. “A lot of work and dedication has come together. It’s a very proud moment for everyone.

“I cried until my eyes were swollen,” Michelle said. “Tyson was a small town kid. He played all his minor hockey in Souris and with the Cougars. There was no private school or anything like that. He worked hard to get where he is now location. Many hours spent at the rink and in the car.

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In fact, Tyson Kozak has little hope of making it to the NHL. He was a 5-foot-11, 173-pound junior coming off an 18-game, three-goal season when he was drafted.

As an AHL pro, he scored five goals in 55 games in his first year and five goals in 41 games in his second year.

He’s 5-for-14 from the field this season, good enough for the team lead, but that’s not the only reason he was called up.

“He’s a winner,” Rochester U.S. coach Michael Leon told local reporter Nick Ripp that day. “He’s going to play a long time and he’s going to help other people win.”

What this kid lacks in size and completion, he makes up for in work ethic and toughness.

“To see a guy who hasn’t even been on the power play … talks about how to treat it right,” Leone said. “His performance was unbelievable. It’s a really good message for the team: This is a team sport. It’s not about points, it’s not about individual accolades. It’s about playing team hockey and winning, and Tyson ·Kozak is the winner.

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Fast forward to the end of the second quarter of Thursday’s game, and it seemed like a fairytale ending was coming for the Kozak family. The lad from Souris broke the tie at 2-2 and almost left the entourage furious.

“Overwhelming,” Michelle said.

But wait. The Jets are challenging the field goal, saying Connor Hellebuyck was interfered with.

Instead of celebrating in the suite, mom, dad, sister and others watched the replay on the big screen without any fuss.

“This isn’t goalie interference,” Michelle thought. “Of course, that’s a goal.”

Trevor didn’t back down either. His son had just done something incredible, he thought, lifting the weight of an entire southern Manitoba community.

“Then the announcement came out,” he said. “It just went down. I don’t want to say shy, but shy.

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However, the Kozak couple did not ignore their son’s reaction, which was captured on the big screen. It might even pick them up.

“You see the look on his face, he doesn’t mind at all,” Dad said. “The smile didn’t leave his face the whole game.”

The Jets won 3-2 in overtime, and after the game, the kid admitted he was shaking like a leaf during the game.

The moment he thought he scored: “Pure joy and excitement. Unreal moment.

But that’s not the case.

But the verdict and defeat didn’t take away from what he had just accomplished.

“Not a lot of NHL hockey players come from small towns,” Tyson said. “So it’s a really cool moment for me and my family.”

For those watching the game in Souris, it was a moment that won’t be erased by small details like the official scoresheet.

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“Even though they took away his goal, in our hearts he still achieved it,” said Marilyn Kozak, Tyson’s grandmother.

She is laughing.

So did Mom and Dad during our Friday chat, still on an emotional roller coaster two days after leaving rural Manitoba.

“I don’t even know how to explain it,” Trevor said of the whole experience. “Just elation. Everyone here with us had tears in their eyes.

Dad spoke to me at the Toronto airport as he and his daughter, Paige, were flying back to Winnipeg. On Monday they were back to work managing a feed mill in Souris.

Mom stayed in Buffalo long enough, though, to watch one more Saturday game against Utah State.

“He didn’t know if he was playing or not,” Michel said. “But regardless, I think he’s very impressive. So hopefully…”

Her voice trailed off.

Hope? Maybe the whole journey isn’t over yet.

After all, small towns breed big dreams.

paul friesen@kleinmedia.ca
X: @friesensunmedia

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