From Huskie Athletics with files from Canada West Communications
SASKATOON – A dominant season became even more impressive for University of Saskatchewan Huskies goaltender Taran Kozun on Thursday, as the third-year from Nipawin became just the sixth Huskie in school history to be named a Canada West Athlete of the Year.
Kozun along with Kelsey Wog, a swimmer from the University of Manitoba who was named the Female Athlete of the Year, will now move forward as the Canada West nominees for the prestigious Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards, which honour the nation’s top male and female student-athletes.
“He was goalie of the year in the WHL before he came to us and all he has done is continue to get better,” said Huskies head coach Dave Adolph. “With the hard work he puts in it’s not surprising to me that he would be nominated for such a prestigious award.”
Announced on June 25th, Kozun is aiming to become just the second Huskie to claim national top honours after Adam Ens captured the title in 2003-04 with an MVP season on a U SPORTS National Championship winning Huskie team.
Kozun’s CW Male Athlete of the Year win adds to what has been a remarkable season of individual accomplishments for the former Seattle Thunderbird.
The third-year netminder was dominant between the pipes for the Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies. The WHL’s top goaltender in 2014-15, Kozun led the conference in every key goaltending statistic this season, posting a 1.87 goals-against average, .931 save percentage, five shutouts, and 17 wins.
As if those numbers weren’t enough, Kozun also became just the second goalie in CW history to score when he found the net in January against the Calgary Dinos.
Canada West coaches acknowledged Kozun’s standout season, naming him both the CW Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year. He would go onto become the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy winner as U SPORTS’ top player, joining Jon Barkman (2001-02) as the lone Huskies to have captured the nation’s top award.
“To be recognized as a top athlete is a huge honor and I’m happy that I’ll be able to look back on this accomplishment when I’m older,” said Kozun.
Kozun joins the ranks of Derek Hulak (hockey / 2013-14), Sarah Crooks (basketball / 2005-06), Kelsie Hendry (track & field / 2004-05), Adam Ens (volleyball / 2003-04) and Warren Muzika (football / 1998-99) as Huskies who have claimed top Canada West honours since the award first began in 1993.
