After an altercation with Nottinghams Marc Levers, Kozak left Levers needing 20 stitches to his forehead before he skated through the blood on his way to the dressing room after receiving a game penalty for his actions.
He missed Saturdays 6-1 loss in Cardiff due to the game penalty however an appeal was launched in time for him to play in the 4-1 loss to the Belfast Giants at the Hull Arena. Kozak showed plenty of endeavour in the Stingrays fourth consecutive loss however ultimately a lack of discipline killed the Stingrays as they conceded three powerplay goals from ten powerplay attempts that the Rays handed to Belfast, with Jake Riddle taking five, and ten minutes, of those penalties.
Coach Rick Strachan was left disappointed with the teams indiscipline so far this season:
"When we stick to our system and stay disciplined we are a good hockey team, but you have to do it for 60 minutes. The guys had better learn real quick that if you take penalties you are not going to win. We face Coventry on Saturday and they've got just as good a powerplay as Belfast have."Meanwhile he had this to say about the £2000 appeal for Kozak:
"We're appealing because we think the penalty was too severe - end of story. That's all I can say at the moment."Whilst Kozak was left ruing his actions and the ban:
"I think it was a bit harsh, but I've got no control over that. I'll leave that to the coach and organisation to appeal. I feel I've let my team-mates down. I don't really want to be out that many games, I've come here to play hockey and being suspended doesn't help."The Stingrays move on to the seasons third weekend pointless, and with just 7 goals scored so far this season they will have to solve both their chronic inability to score and their indiscipline if they wish to take any points from next weekend. On Saturday they face the EIHL champion Coventry Blaze, who will be reeling after two losses this weekend against Sheffield and Cardiff, whilst on Sunday they face an Edinburgh side with just a surprise victory over Sheffield to their name, and with a real chance at taking at least a point away.
