During his time in the UK, Stingrays forward, Rick Kozak must surely have broken the all time record in ice hockey column inches, most certainly given his much revered stay in the UK lasted not much more than just over one month.
After signing from the Mississippi Riverkings in June, Kozak, who's NHL contract ran out with his loan deal at the Riverkings, became one of the most anticipated signings in Stingrays history. Having been drafted in the 3rd round of the 2003 NHL Draft he came to the Stingrays with a pedigree, and most of all, a reputation.
A reputation for tough, hard nosed hockey with the occasional large ban on his resume, Kozak came with undoubted talent and big expectations. He signed in a side that looked to have its fair share of agitators, namely Jake Riddle and Jason Kostadine, and aggressors, in Jonathan Bernier and Stuart Kerr. He was brought in to play hockey, hockey that had seen him highly rated by both the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers NHL franchises.
Rays coach, Rick Strachan, was fully aware that Kozak had a desire to fight on occasion, and fight he would let him. Yet he made it clear to Kozak that he brought him over to play hockey and be a "franchise player", if there is such a thing in UK hockey.
It took just 69 minutes and 23 seconds of league action for that expectation and talent to come crashing down, and effectively ruin any hopes the Stingrays had for a full squad at the beginning of the season.
After dropping the gloves during a scuffle in a game in Nottingham against the Panthers, Panthers forward, Marc Levers, was left needing 25 stitches in his forehead, whilst a puddle of blood was left sprayed across the ice, both as a result of Kozak's actions.
That was effectively the end of his career with the Stingrays. He returned from a ten game ban after just six games as a result of constant lobbying from the Stingrays management, believing that he was on the receiving end of some harsh treatment from the EIHL disciplinary team. The Stingrays stuck by him through thick and thin, rumour after rumour came and went but the official line from Kozak was "I'm happy".
That lasted just one game after his return, which coincidentally came against the same Panthers side that he received his ban, a battle that Kozak, quite comically won (although the Stingrays were on the end of a drubbing from the Panthers) with a two goal, one assist effort. Rick Strachan said he believed that Kozak had his mind set on leaving during, and after, the Stingrays game in Coventry on the 12th and as such he was not surprised when Kozak turned up at his office on the following Tuesday, wanting to leave.
And that was that. Aside from the ban, the departing memory of Kozak was probably either his return against Nottingham, or his first game for the Stingrays against Manchester, where he scored two goals (he was only awarded one) whilst running over Manchester netminder Stephen Murphy on numerous occasions.
Unfortunately he will go down on the same list as Craig Minard, Paul Cabana, Scott Wray, Garry Luini and Jonathan Bernier, of players who quit the Stingrays pre-Christmas. He will go down on a smaller list, along with Cabana, Wray and Minard, of Stingrays that could, and almost certainly would, have provided so much to the Stingrays had they stayed the whole season.
A line must now be drawn below the name Rick Kozak. The Stingrays coach, Rick Strachan, is focused on bringing in a replacement that is new to the country, the fans should focus on supporting the team and most importantly the team need to focus on building on their win over Basingstoke, with a win over Newcastle.
PICTURE (Arthur Foster): Kozak running Stephen Murphy, during his first taste of EIHL action.
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Saturday 1st November: Belfast Giants v Excel Hull Stingrays @ Odyssey Arena, F/O 7pm
