Younger Cozens looks to prove he belongs in training camp

By Lethbridge Herald on September 1, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Luke Cozens attempts to go after a loose puck during the first day of Lethbridge Hurricanes training camp on Thursday at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

There is a Yukon player with the last name Cozens at Lethbridge Hurricanes training camp this week.

No it’s not current Buffalo Sabres forward and former Canes captain Dylan, of course.

But it’s his little brother, Luke.

Luke comes into camp after having a productive year with Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep where he was fourth in team scoring with 41 points (16 goals, 25 assists).

“Yeah me and Dylan are really close,” said Luke.

“You know before I came here, he was just letting me know about how good of an organization it is. But he was making sure I was ready. Me and him were on the ice together, we were in the gym together. So, you know, he was pushing me a lot to be ready to play in this league and yeah it really helped having him as a brother.”

Luke is coming into camp to prove he can play in this league.

“Through the summer I was training really hard (and) built a lot of strength up,” he said.

“So yeah I just want to show that I can play in this league this year and you know make an impact on this team.”

Luke considers himself to be a shifty centreman.

“I think I can make good passes ,make good plays and you know if I get time, I can put a good shot  in the net,” he said.

He also considers himself pretty defensive.

Going back as far as the 2019-2020 season, Luke played with the U15AA Yukon Zone team before making the jump to Abbotford’s Yale Academy to play with their U15 Prep team the following season and then going on to the U17 Prep team a season after that.

“In Whitehorse, it’s obviously hard to get noticed,” said the younger Cozens.

“So, you know, we were playing in Whitehorse throughout the winter season every year and you know going to spring tournaments … down in like Kelowna (and) Vancouver. So that was good for us to, you know, get recognized a bit that way.”

Then Cozens went out to Yale to play for three seasons.

“It’s a good league, the CSSHL(Canadian Sport School Hockey League), so that was good,” he said.

“You know talked to Jim Hardington, the Abbotsford (based) Lethbridge scout a lot, and you know … recognized me obviously with Dylan’s name and yeah they just drafted me.”

Luke  signed to a Western Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement back in March and was drafted by the Canes in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.