Gizowski finding role on Canes

By Lethbridge Herald on December 21, 2023.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Kooper Gizowski battles in front of the Regina Pats net during the Dec. 15 game at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Kooper Gizowski has really come into his own in his first season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes after coming over in an offseason trade with the  Spokane Chiefs.

Gizowski had a slow start but more recently had points in 11 of the last 18 games and sits third in team scoring with 13 goals.

“I think it’s been really good so far,” said Gizowski.

“You know, coming into a new team, it’s not always easy meeting all the new guys and kind of fitting in with everyone.”

But Gizowski says his teammates, coaching staff and management  have been really welcoming.

“I think I’m finding my groove with the team and the lines that I’ve been on and I think it’s going really well for the first half,” he said.

Gizowski has been playing on different lines.

“It’s good,” said Gizowski.

“You’re playing with more players and you’re kind of building more chemistry with each and every player and it makes it easier too. If there’s one game someone gets hurt or something happens and I have to go up in the line-up then it’s not going to make it hard on me.”

Gizowski is glad that he is finding his step on the team.

“I think we’re a really good team,” said Gizowski.

“I think there’s obviously games you watch and we might not play our best and it may not be the outcome we want. But I feel like with this group of guys, we come in everyday, we work our hardest every day, off-ice (and) on-ice, and I think from the first half, what I’ve noticed is we never really gave up on each other. We lose a game and we just kind of come back even harder next game.”

Canes assistant coach Matt Anholt says he’s been excellent.

“He’s given us a really good depth scorer for that bottom six I guess you’d say with our forward lines,” said Anholt.

“He’s been able to really produce on the powerplay on our second unit which has been excellent to see. He’s been able to give that secondary scoring that we were  just kind of alluding to… He’s an excellent team character guy.”