Monday, February 15, 2010

Kozun named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Brandon Kozun of the Calgary Hitmen, an honour he also earned in October earlier this season.

Kozun picked up eight points, scoring six goals and two assists to go with a remarkable +8 rating, in four games over the past week, helping the Hitmen post a 4-0 record in that span.

On Tuesday, February 9th, the Hitmen were in Swift Current taking on the Broncos. Kozun scored once and was named the games 3rd Star in the Hitmen’s 6-1 win over the Broncos. The next night, Wednesday, February 10th, the Hitmen were at the Brandt Centre in Regina taking on the Pats. Kozun scored his first career hat-trick pacing the Hitmen to a 6-2 victory over the Pats and was named the games 1st Star. On Friday, February 12th, the Hitmen were back on home turf hosting the Prince Albert Raiders at the Saddledome. Kozun netted one goal and earned 2nd Star honours as the Hitmen tripled the Raiders 3-1. On Sunday, February 14th, the Hitmen were in Lethbridge for an afternoon match up with the Hurricanes. Kozun had one goal and two assists in the Hitmen’s 6-2 downing of the Hurricanes. He was also named the games 1st Star.

Kozun’s eight points over the last four games has him sitting tied for 1st among WHL Scorers with 83 points (29 goals, 54 assists) in 51 games played. The Calgary Hitmen have stretched their winning streak to eight games and currently sit second in the WHL Eastern Conference with a 40-16-1-1 record for 82 points.

Kozun, a 19-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, is in his third full season with the Calgary Hitmen. The 2009 NHL Draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings has appeared in 203 career WHL regular season games collecting 246 points (89 goals, 157 assists).

The WHL has also nominated Andrew Hayes of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Hayes posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 50 of 51 shots faced for a 0.500 goals-against average and a remarkable 0.980 save percentage. Hayes, a native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, is 10th among WHL goaltenders with a 2.70 GAA and has posted a 22-12-0-2 record thus far this season.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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