Cozens, Addison Eastern Conference major award winners

By Jensen, Randy on April 22, 2020.

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

Two veteran members of the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been recognized with major Western Hockey League awards.

The WHL announced Tuesday that Hurricanes’ forward Dylan Cozens has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Year while on Monday it was announced that defenceman Calen Addison has been named the WHL’s Eastern Conference Defenceman of the Year.

Cozens, 19, was originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round (19th overall) in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. The product of Whitehorse, Yukon, was named the 28th captain in franchise history serving as a co-captain in 2019-20, appeared in 51 games during the regular season for the Hurricanes totalling a team-high 85 points. Cozens set career-highs in goals (38) and points (85) as he led the Canes in all three offensive categories.

The Buffalo Sabres seventh overall pick from 2019 also finished the season with 25 power-play points (8g-17a) along with a team-high six game-winning goals and four shorthanded goals. Cozens finished tied for fifth in the WHL in goals (38), was seventh in WHL points (85) while finishing atop the WHL in shorthanded goals (4).

In his WHL career, Cozens has appeared in 179 regular-season games with the Hurricanes totalling 223 points (95g-128a) along with 88 penalty minutes and a plus-49 rating. He sits 17th all-time in Hurricanes franchise goals (95), 19th all-time in franchise assists (128) and is 18th all-time in franchise points (223).

Cozens represented the WHL at the CIBC Canada Russia Series where he collected two assists in two games. He also played a huge part of Canada capturing a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic where he registered nine points (2g-7a) along with six penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating in seven tournament games, including a goal in the gold-medal game against Russia.

Cozens will be up against Western Conference Player of the Year Adam Beckman of the Spokane Chiefs for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year which will be announced on May 20.

Addison, 20, was originally drafted by the Hurricanes second overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. The product of Brandon, Man., appeared in 50 regular-season games during the shortened 2019-20 season collecting 52 points (10g-42a) along with 51 penalty minutes while marking a career-high plus-7 rating. Addison finished second in defenceman scoring for the Hurricanes while also finishing second in power-play points with four goals and 20 assists.

During the 2019-20 season, the Minnesota Wild prospect also suited up for Team WHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series, skating in both games while collecting two points (1g-1a), including the overtime game-winning goal in the first game against the Russians. Addison also represented Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship where he was crucial in helping Canada capture a gold medal. In seven tournament games for the Canadians, he totalled nine points (1g-8a) with four penalty minutes while adding three assists in the gold medal game. He was also named a 2019-20 First Team All-Star in the WHL.

In his WHL career with the Hurricanes, Addison amassed 215 points in 252 regular-season games with 210 penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating. He is the second-highest scoring defenceman in Hurricanes franchise history. Addison sits tied for 16th all-time in franchise games played (252), fifth all-time in franchise assists (174) and 18th in all-time franchise points (215).

Addison will be up against Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for WHL defenceman of the Year which will be announced on May 19.

NOTES – The WHL will conduct its 2020 Bantam Draft today at 10 a.m. online. The Hurricanes hold the 16th pick in the first round. . . On Monday the Hurricanes traded 2001-born forward Adam Hall to the Vancouver Giants in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the 2022 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Hall, 19, was originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the eighth round (158th overall) in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. The product of Edmonton appeared in four games for the Canes during 2019-20 going pointless.

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