Tisdale Trojans rookie defenceman Landon Kosior has definitely turned some heads this hockey season.
“For a 15-year-old defenceman, his poise and his confidence level are just amazing,” said Darrell Mann, the head coach.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound blue liner from Regina has played strong defence and, as of Sunday, led the Trojans with 12 points in 12 games. Kosior was not drafted in the Western Hockey League bantam draft last spring, but his strong start prompted the Prince Albert Raiders to add him to their protected list.
“He is a player who just keeps getting better and better,” Mann said.
Last week Tisdale beat Prince Albert, 4-3, in a shootout. In a two-game homestand against the Battlefords Stars, the Trojans won the first game, 3-1, and the second, 7-4. Tisdale has won seven straight games.
“I think the biggest thing is our goaltending. We have two guys... We are lucky. We have won seven games in a row and our goaltender is usually our best player every night,” said Mann in reference to the tandem of Tanner Martin and Roddy Ross.
The team is now 10-1-0-1 on the season. The Trojans were first in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League standings, as of Sunday.
“I just don’t remember us having a start like this and finding ways to win every night,” said Mann, a veteran coach who led the Trojans to the 2002 national midget AAA championship.
The Trojans’ depth has been a strength. Seventeen players have recorded at least two points this season. Mann is pleased that his team gets production from four lines.
“It makes it tough for teams to key on one line and try to stop them,” said Mann, who noted his blue line has also been chipping in offensively.
The Trojans’ lone game this week is Friday on the road against the Regina Pat Canadians. The Pat Canadians are 6-2-1-1 on the season.
Mann said that Kosior has been “definitely the complete package on the backend.” He has been responsible defensively. Being paired with defensive stalwart Jordan Dasko has allowed Kosior to be more offensive. In addition, he continues to improve.
“He is just so smart. He understands the game so well. He is so coachable. You tell him something once in practice and he does it forever,” said Mann, who noted that Kosior comes to play every night.
“He is such a warrior for us.”
Trojans 4, Mintos 3 SO
Tisdale prevailed in a shootout 4-3 on the road on Oct. 24. Cade Hayes and Kalen Ukrainetz lit the lamp in the shootout for the Trojans, while Martin stonewalled both of Prince Albert’s shooters.
The Trojans were rolling early as Carter Lake scored in the first period and Colton Schell and Ukrainetz had goals in the second to stake the team to a 3-0 lead. However, Prince Albert got one back in the second and scored twice in the third to tie things up.
“Tanner Martin was the difference and we got a chance to win in a shootout,” Mann said.
Martin finished with 37 saves on 40 shots. His Mintos counterpart, Cale Elder, had 17 saves. Jaxon Tait, Kishaun Gervais and Austin Lamotte scored for Prince Albert.
Trojans 3, Stars 1
Schell scored twice to power the Trojans to a 3-2 victory on Oct. 28 over the visiting Stars. Mann said that Schell came up big for the Trojans and was the catalyst.
“Our guys worked hard. We have different guys scoring every night.”
With an Ukrainetz goal, Tisdale led 1-0 after the first period. Schell’s first marker put the Trojans up 2-0 in the second. Ty Mosimann got the Stars on the scoreboard early in the third period. But that was all they were able to get past Ross, who finished with 29 saves. Schell scored his second of the night to make the 3-1 final score.
Kosior recorded three assists, while Brett Fogg had two. Joseph Young made 31 saves for Battlefords.
Trojans 7, Stars 4
A three-goal second period helped Tisdale post a 7-4 victory at home on Oct. 29. The Trojans and Stars were knotted up at 2-2 after the first period. Hayes, Brett Neumeier and Liam Rutten all scored in the second session.
“It just seemed like we came out in the second period and really got on a roll,” Mann said.
Tisdale scored four straight goals to go up 6-2. The Stars scored two times in the third period, but the Trojans prevailed.
Six different players scored for the Trojans. In addition to his second period marker, Hayes scored in the third. Zack Smith and Kaden Kohle had first period goals. Jordan Dasko scored in the third. Martin made 20 saves.
Stars goalies Carter Serhyenko and Young made 27
