Brandon Kozun has never played a National Hockey League game before. He’d like to change that. Scoring goals like the one he did Friday for the Toronto Maple Leafs will surely help his cause.
The 24-year-old Kozun showed speed and some quick hands with his goal in exhibition play Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. Skating onto a loose puck, he broke into the zone then put a slick deke on Jonas Gustavsson, tucking the puck into the net to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead in the first period.
Have a look, courtesy Pete Blackburn:
While he put his skill on display there, Kozun already has a check against his name for his height. He stands only 5'8" tall and weighs 167 pounds, and it might these attributes that he has been overlooked at times in his career.
“As a smaller guy you obviously have an uphill climb,” Kozun told TSN.
“It’s not a surprise. This is a game of men and as a smaller guy, you’re always going to listen to the critics say that you’re big enough or you’re not strong enough. But for me it’s always been ‘I’m going to prove you wrong’ and try and get to that next level.’”