Kozun excited to get back in Hitmen lineup
By Aaron Bell
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Like a lot of other hockey players, Brandon Kozun doesn’t enjoy watching the game a whole lot.
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The Calgary Hitmen scoring star is much happier to be on the ice filling the net with pucks but he has been relegated to spectator status for the past two games at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Kozun is smiling again now that he will be back in the lineup for the semi-final game against the host Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday (8:00 p.m. Eastern on Rogers Sportsnet).
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“I’m very excited,” Kozun said. “I’m ready to go and I’ve got a lot of built up energy ready. I’ve wanted to get out there the last two (games). It’s tough for me. I kind of shake the entire game and get a little nervous. It’s tough to watch on the sidelines and it’s going to be nice to be out there.”
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Kozun played a few shifts in their opener against the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday but has been sidelined since then with a lower body injury that was thought to be a sprained ankle. He skated with the Hitmen in practice on Thursday and said that he is ready to play.
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“I think if you watched that practice you could see how excited I am,” Kozun said. “It felt really good. There’s not much I can’t do right now. It’s nice to get back on the ice. I felt really comfortable out there.”
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Kozun led the CHL in scoring this season with 32 goals and 107 points in 65 games and then led all WHL playoff scorers with 30 points in the playoffs. The Hitmen are also anxious to get him back in the lineup.
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“Obviously Kozie’s a competitor,” said Hitmen coach Mike Williamson. “That’s the reason why he led the CHL in scoring. He’s a game-breaker type of player. He’s not going to go out there and win a game for us but he’s certainly going to contribute in a big way and we’re certainly happy to have him back.”
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Kozun is hoping to help the Hitmen knock the host Brandon Wheat Kings out of the tournament with a win in the semi-final and set up a date in the championship game against the Windsor Spitfires on Sunday.
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“We’re expecting a big push (from Brandon),” Kozun said. “It’s do or die. Any time you’re team is on the line, it’s going to be a big game. There’s a lot of hate in that game – both teams don’t like each other very much.
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“It’s going to be intense.”
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Photo: Aaron Bell/CHL Images