WHL Stars & NHL Debuts: unforgettable first outing for Sabres rookie Kozak

Buffalo, N.Y.- Tyson Kozak’s first NHL game was certainly unforgettable- even if it wasn’t for the reason he had hoped.

The Buffalo Sabres forward beat Winnipeg Jets star Connor Hellebuyck to give the Sabres a second-period lead, but after review, the goal was called back for goaltender interference.

It was a can-you-believe-it moment, with Kozak’s family shaking their heads in the stands and fellow WHL alumnus Dylan Cozens on hand to give Kozak a helmet tap and reassure him he’d get another.

“Pure joy and excitement,” Kozak said of the moment he appeared to score. “Playing in my first game was really cool, and I’m super grateful and to, I thought, have scored in my first game is an unreal moment… But it got disallowed. It happens.”

The 21-year-old forward still made an impact in his debut, adding a shot, two hits and five faceoff wins in 8:26 of ice time while skating with fellow CHL graduates Beck Malenstyn (Calgary Hitmen, Swift Current Broncos) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (Val-D’or Foreurs).

Kozak had earned the call-up to the NHL club on November 29 after putting up five goals, an assist and 24 penalty minutes with the AHL’s Rochester Americans in his third professional season.

A hot lap for the rookie 🔥

Congratulations on your @NHL debut, Tyson! pic.twitter.com/AxMEmkLPRK

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 5, 2024

But the Souris, Man. product had no idea he’d be making his debut until he ran into his family, who had been tipped off about the big game.

“I guess my parents got in last night,” Kozak grinned. “I didn’t know about it. I saw them this morning in the hotel lobby, so it was kind of a surprise to me. I was wondering what they were doing here, but it was a pretty cool moment.”

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward has defied the odds time and time again as a late-round pick at the NHL and WHL level.

He joined the Portland Winterhawks in 2018-19 after being selected in the sixth round of the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft.

Kozak established himself as a hardworking, two-way player and earned the captaincy in his final season, where he scored a career-best 32 goals and 37 assists for 69 points and a +25 rating in 66 games and earned WHL U.S. Division Second Team All-Star honours.

Over four seasons, he netted a total of 48 goals and 61 helpers for 109 points in 152 matches.

Tyson Kozak rocking the Sabres’ goathead jersey just hits different 🔥#PortlandtothePros pic.twitter.com/C9wbEHKY0d

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) December 6, 2024

Buffalo called his name in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and signed him to an entry-level deal the following summer.

Kozak has since tallied 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points in 110 AHL contests and made two trips to the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Sabres get back to work on Saturday as the host the Utah Hockey Club at 11:00 a.m. MST.