Brandon Kozun spent the last three years piling up points and helping his Calgary Hitmen pile up wins in the Western Hockey League.

Now, the 20-year-old Calgary, AB, product is getting his feet wet as a rookie in the American Hockey League with the Manchester Monarchs.

Drafted in the 6th round, 179th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in 2009, Kozun won the WHL scoring title in 2009-10 after posting 32 goals and 75 assists for 107 points in 69 games. The 5’8”, 156-lb winger piled up another eight goals and 30 points in 22 playoff games to lead the Hitmen to the 2010 WHL Championship and a berth in the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament.

A supremely skilled playmaker with outstanding vision and offensive awareness, Kozun proved that his diminutive stature was no obstacle to him being a dominant force at the WHL level, having racked up 92 goals and 270 points over 217 career WHL regular-season games.

Now, in his first season of professional hockey, Kozun is proving the same at the AHL level, having already picked up six goals and 14 points in 21 games to lead all Monarchs’ rookies in scoring.

Having dominated at every previous level he’s played, expect Kozun to continue that trend as his first season in the AHL progresses.

CATCHING UP WITH…BRANDON KOZUN

On his first season of professional hockey…
“It’s been going well, so far. I’m really excited to get my professional career started and get out and live on my own. It was a bit of an adjustment, getting use to a new environment, being far from home, and living by myself, but I’ve gotten more and more comfortable with being independent.”

On adjusting to the AHL…
“The guys here are obviously bigger, faster and stronger. They’ve got more skill. What you notice how few mistakes are made. Guys are smart with the puck, and don’t make bad plays very often. You don’t have a lot of time and space to make plays, either. You get the puck and you have to move it quickly. It makes you more patient when taking chances, because you don’t want to give away possession. Guys will make you pay for mistakes up here.”

On assessing his play for the Monarchs, so far…
“I think I’ve been okay, so far. It took some time to get used to the level of play, but it’s coming along. I’ve been more focused on playing smartly and not making too many mistakes. They’ve given me the opportunity to play, and I’ve been able to put up some points. Hopefully, I can keep building and getting better, and keep contributing to the team.”

On playing with many WHL Alumni in Manchester…
“It’s been great. Guys are good about helping you out and helping you get used to things at this level. Having played against a lot of the guys, it’s nice to have that familiarity. There are a lot of young guys on the team, so we are all going through the same things together. It makes it easier to get comfortable and feel like you’re a part of the group.”

On the struggling Hitmen this season…
“I’ve been checking the box scores on the Website, and have caught a period or two online. I know they are having a tough go right now, and I’m not sure why. It’s not like they have a bad team…they’ve got some great players and, with Kelly Kisio and Mike Williamson there, they are run as well as any team. I think they’ve just had some tough luck. With a roster like they have, I wouldn’t count them out, yet.”

On developing his game in the WHL…
“I was lucky to get the chance to play for such a great organization as the Hitmen. They are an incredible group, from top to bottom, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better three years. The WHL, too, is an incredibly well-run League. It’s the most competitive and challenging League for Junior-aged players. Obviously, a lot of guys who go on to play in the NHL choose to play in the WHL because it’s definitely the best and fastest way to move ahead in your hockey career.”

Jesse Watts
whl.ca