Thunderbirds’ Taran Kozun named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Taran Kozun of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the first week of playoff action ending March 23 with a 2-0-0-0 record posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .970.
Kozun earns the weekly award for the third time this season after a pair of first star performances in the opening two games of the WHL’s Western Conference Playoffs between the fourth place Thunderbirds and the fifth place Everett Silvertips. Kozun stopped 64 shots in total including a 38-save performance on Saturday night as first star of a 2-1 victory, then repeated as the game’s first star with 26 saves on Sunday in the 3-1 victory to give the Thunderbirds a 2-0 series lead.
Kozun, a 19-year-old from Nipawin, SK, is playing in his second full WHL season and first with the Thunderbirds after being acquired from the Kamloops Blazers in January. In 24 games with the Thunderbirds this season, Kozun posted a 14-9-0-1 record with four shutout victories along with a 2.40 goals-against-average and a .928 save percentage.
Also considered for the award this week was Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Antoine Bibeau who backstopped the Val-d’Or Foreurs to a pair of victories over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan including a shutout win with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .971. In the OHL, Justin Nichols backstopped the first place Guelph Storm to a pair of victories over the Plymouth Whalers with one shutout win posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .961.
2013-14 Playoff Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
Mar. 17 – Mar. 23: Taran Kozun (Seattle Thunderbirds)
2013-14 Regular Season Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
Mar. 10 – Mar. 16: Philippe Cadorette (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Mar. 3 – Mar. 9: Brandon Halverson (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Feb. 24 – Mar. 2: Alex Nedeljkovic (Plymouth Whalers)
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23: Philippe Desrosiers (Rimouski Oceanic)
Feb. 10 – Feb. 16: Jordan DeKort (Kitchener Rangers)
Feb. 3 – Feb. 9: Taran Kozun (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Brendan Burke (Portland Winterhawks)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Patrik Bartosak (Red Deer Rebels)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Taran Kozun (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Oscar Dansk (Erie Otters)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Franky Palazzese (Sudbury Wolves)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Matthew Mancina (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Oscar Dansk (Erie Otters)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Matt Mahalak (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Patrik Polivka (Victoria Royals)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Francois Brassard (Quebec Remparts)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Tristan Jarry (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Spencer Martin (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Jordon Cooke (Kelowna Rockets)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Philippe Cadorette (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Brandon Whitney (Victoriaville Tigres)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Sept. 23 – Sept. 29: Alex Nedeljkovic (Plymouth Whalers)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 22: Sebastien Auger (Saint John Sea Dogs)