愛污传媒

Sports

    • Yukon's remote fresh waters are producing NHL-calibre talent in Dylan Cozens and Gavin McKenna

    Buffalo Sabres' Dylan Cozen, left, faces off with New Jersey Devils' Erik Haula during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Buffalo Sabres' Dylan Cozen, left, faces off with New Jersey Devils' Erik Haula during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
    Share
    WHITEHORSE, Yukon -

    Buffalo Sabres centre Dylan Cozens had just finished a gruelling summer off-ice session when he and trainer Ben McPherson drove out into the Yukon wilderness to go fishing.

    鈥淚 know the spot,鈥 McPherson recalled Cozens saying. And within 10 minutes of casting his line, Cozens hooked a big one.

    鈥淗e probably had that thing on the line for 40 minutes, and remember, he just had a workout prior to that, deadlifts and hinges. And he鈥檚 doing the same thing with the fish,鈥 McPherson said. 鈥淗e was exhausted by the end of it, a 40-something-pound lake trout. 鈥 It was like the biggest fish I鈥檝e ever seen.鈥

    The moment two summers ago has stayed with McPherson because it exemplified the determination Cozens puts into each task 鈥 training, fishing, hockey.

    鈥淐ompetitive, like, he wants the biggest fish in the lake,鈥 McPherson said before showing off a picture of Cozens鈥 catch.

    Ben McPherson, an off-ice hockey trainer, poses for a picture at the gym of his Northern Strength Academy in Whitehorse, Yukon, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/John Wawrow)

    Maybe there is something beyond fish in Yukon鈥檚 fresh waters helping Canada鈥檚 remote territory 鈥 best known for the Klondike gold rush 鈥 in producing NHL-calibre talent.

    At the 2019 NHL draft in Vancouver, Cozens was selected 7th overall by Buffalo 鈥 the first Yukoner chosen in the first round. In his fifth NHL season, he is an established top-line, two-way player with 66 goals and 166 points in 282 games.

    Gavin McKenna, who like Cozens is from Yukon鈥檚 capital of Whitehorse, at 16 is already projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. In his first full season with the WHL's Medicine Hat, McKenna had 34 goals and 97 points in 61 games to earn Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year honours.

    鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing more and more competitive players come out of there, so it鈥檚 really awesome to see,鈥 said Cozens, who is 23. 鈥淚 think I put Yukon on the map, but Gavin鈥檚 going to really put it on the map.鈥

    McKenna鈥檚 father, Willy, crowed how Whitehorse could become the Cole Harbour of the north, referring to the Nova Scotia hometown of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Sidney Crosby and Colorado鈥檚 Nathan MacKinnon.

    鈥淚t鈥檚 the long winters that the kids have here, and their access to backyard rinks,鈥 he added, before crediting Cozens for showing what was possible.

    鈥淗e kind of paved the way for Gavin, even though Gavin would have tried his hardest regardless,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t definitely gave Gavin a little more hope.鈥

    Gavin McKenna of Canada celebrates his 4-6 empty net goal and hat trick during the 2024 IIHF ice hockey U18 world championships final match between the United States and Canada in Espoo, Finland, May 5, 2024. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP, File)

    The two players know each other, with McKenna being friends with Cozens鈥 younger brother Luke. They share the same trainer. Both grew up spending the long dark winter days skating on backyard rinks built by their fathers and left Whitehorse at a young age to chase their dream of big-time hockey.

    Cozens left for suburban Vancouver at 14, two years after he broke his tibia and fibula while being crushed into the boards during a game against adults. McKenna was 12 when he left to attend a hockey academy in Kelowna, British Columbia.

    His father grew emotional, recalling how his son arrived with a broken wrist and then broke the other wrist during his first practice.

    鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it kind of breaks me up a bit because 鈥︹ McKenna said, pausing to catch his breath. 鈥淵ou know, any normal kid would have just said, `I want to go home,鈥 which he didn鈥檛 do. 鈥 I think going through that and being on his own, he probably proved to himself, `Yeah, I can do it.鈥欌

    Gavin McKenna credits his family and the Whitehorse community, which rallied to his support when he held raffles and fundraisers to defray the costs of flying out of town 12 to 18 times a year for hockey.

    鈥淚 do my best to give back to the community, helping with hockey camps for the younger kids coming out,鈥 said McKenna, who is also proud of his Tr始ond毛k Hw毛ch始in First Nation heritage. 鈥淚 want to be a big motivator for Indigenous people and young athletes to believe in themselves and hopefully influence them and their dreams and their goals.鈥

    Cozens remembers the friends and family members who made the 2 1/2-hour flight to attend the 2019 draft. Whitehorse has since developed a Sabres fan base, where most bars broadcast Buffalo games and feature a Cozens jersey hanging on the wall.

    In the second-year of a seven-year, $49.7 million contract, Cozens has bought a new boat and a plot of land with a panoramic view of the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Returning home each off-season offers Cozens a chance to reconnect with nature and refresh his mind.

    Cozens arrived in Buffalo last month determined to change the trajectory of a team in the midst of an NHL-worst 13-year playoff drought.

    Reminded of the battle of landing the lake trout, Cozens recalled the relief and sense of accomplishment sweeping over him once the fish was finally secured. It鈥檚 no different than what he envisions it will feel like luring success back to Buffalo.

    鈥淚 know that day we win the Stanley Cup, it鈥檒l be so much excitement, so much, but also a lifelong goal achieved,鈥 Cozens said.

    In other words, he has even bigger fish to fry.

    鈥淎lways,鈥 Cozens said.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    Canada

    • British Columbia's highest court has weighed in on a dispute over an inflatable hot tub a couple set up on their condo's patio 鈥 potentially bringing a close to the years-long conflict.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

    • Two Vancouver city councillors are questioning why they鈥檝e been ousted from city appointed roles.

    • The rain has only just stopped pummelling parts of Metro Vancouver, but for the hundreds of residents left with flood-damaged homes, the nightmare is far from over.

    • Cole Mcleod was home with his roommate in their 21st floor apartment on Monday afternoon when the fire alarm went off in the downtown Vancouver building. Then, he smelled smoke.

    • A motorcyclist has been critically injured in a collision on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Oakville, police say.

    • Police have released video footage of a recent home invasion in Richmond Hill as they search for three outstanding suspects who they say may have returned to the residence the following day to take another vehicle.

    • TTC staff are recommending that the transit service ban lithium-ion-powered mobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes through the winter months due to the risk of fire in adverse conditions such as salty roads.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • Bricks along the pathway at Calgary鈥檚 Olympic Plaza have been removed and it wasn鈥檛 by the city. It appears people are coming to grab bricks with their names, family members鈥 name or a saying ahead of the plaza closing.

    • More than a decade after Colton Crowshoe's death, the case against his killer continues.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      An Orl茅ans property that once belonged to a religious order is now in the City of Ottawa's hands.

    • Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    • Passengers on a Via Rail train from Toronto found themselves stuck south of Ottawa for several hours Tuesday because of mechanical issues on the train.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • The Quebec government wants to hear Quebecers' thoughts about scrapping the twice-yearly time change, but it isn't promising to act on them.

    • A Montreal borough and Muslim leader are pushing back against the head of the Parti Qu茅b茅cois after he accused a local library of promoting a "religious invasion" by posting a photo of a young girl wearing a hijab for a storytime event.

    • Police are looking for a man and a woman who robbed an Edmonton jewelry store earlier this month.

    • Edmonton Public Schools (EPS) custodians have voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike.

    • A new commentary suggests the Government of Alberta purposely pushed false narratives around public safety to scale down safe supply in the province.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is crossing the floor and joining the Progressive Conservatives.

    • Crews responded to a propane leak in Upper Tantallon, N.S., on Tuesday night.

    • Folks making the trek to and from Thompson along Highway 6 are once again without a bathroom break鈥 at least for now.

    • The Manitoba government is restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio.

    • A number of Manitoba communities kicked off the week by breaking decades-old heat records.

    • Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.

    • A determined group within Moose Jaw has stepped up to provide assistance to those in need 鈥 following the closure of one of the city's shelters.

    • Saturday's matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders could determine if they clinch the West Division title, however the results from Winnipeg's game earlier in the day could make their matchup meaningless.

    • No one was hurt after playground equipment went up in flames at a Kitchener, Ont. park.

    • A bloodstain pattern analyst expert testified Tuesday at Erick Buhr鈥檚 second-degree murder trial.

    • At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    • A Saskatoon family is voicing concerns after paying twice as much PST as expected on a recently purchased truck.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • A city planning document for the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) sparked controversy over the weekend, with three civic election candidates alleging Confederation Mall was at risk of being demolished and replaced with dense housing.

    • Now that the jury has begun deliberating in the Sudbury murder trial of Felicity Altiman, here are some of the interesting courtroom moments they didn't get to hear.

    • Greater Sudbury has ended the employment of CAO Ed Archer, Mayor Paul Lefebvre announced suddenly Tuesday evening

    • After operating for 51 years, General Motors has announced it is closing the Kapuskasing Proving Ground, a facility the automaker used to test the durability of its vehicles in cold weather.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • A collision between a pickup truck and SUV shuttered the intersection of Base Line and New Road for several hours.

    • A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    • Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a serious collision in Barrie鈥檚 south end involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.

    • A 35-year-old man from Etobicoke is facing impaired driving charges after a crash involving a Ministry of Transportation vehicle parked along Highway 11 south.

    • A fire that caused $2.5 million damage at a newly constructed house in Adjala-Tosorontio early Tuesday morning is being investigated as suspicious.

    • If you live in Windsor, Ont. and get a knock at the door from a political canvasser, it might be surprising since there鈥檚 no election on the horizon at the municipal, provincial or federal level. But across the border, that's not the case.

    • 鈥榁ampire Zombies鈥rom Space!鈥 and 鈥楾hundersnake鈥, two films that are showing at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), were both shot across the city and in the County of Essex.

    • Before the Town of Essex adopts it's new Master Plan for Land Use, staff will work to identify best proper use for future developments across the municipality.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • Premier and NDP Leader David Eby says he's been told by the B.C. Green Party that it's too early to begin talks about a minority government agreement after the weekend's still-undecided provincial election.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • The health of honeybees will be the focus of a presentation at the University of Lethbridge on Wednesday evening.

    • Alberta is offering infrastructure funding to help municipalities accommodate recent population growth. The province has added a little over 500,000 people over five years, putting pressure on public services.

    • The union representing the fire rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources says money won鈥檛 fix the systemic problems in the workplace.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 愛污传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒