Kozun pulls out all the stops for T-Birds | WHL playoffs

Hockey’s crease is no place for self-doubt.

Taran Kozun knows as much.

Each time the Seattle Thunderbirds’ promising young goalie steps onto the ice, he comes mentally prepared for just about anything.

Like frequently flying high-speed pucks, protruding sticks and hard body checks.

At times, the swift action in front of the wide net can be chaotic, physical and daunting for a 20-year-old masked man.

Taking the right psychological approach is extremely important. Stay calm amid the storm, he often reminds himself, as he works between the pipes.

“For a goalie, it’s huge,” said Kozun, one of the Western Hockey League’s top keepers during the 72-game regular season. “If you’re mentally ready to go, you feel like you have all the confidence in the world and you feel like you can stop any shot at any time. But if your head is a little sleepy and your mind is a little tired that day, you feel like you’re 4-foot-nothing in the net, instead of trying to be playing like a 6-foot-6 goalie.”

Small but nimble, the 6-foot, 165-pound Kozun has stood tall this season for the T-Birds (38-25-4-5), who open the WHL playoffs against the rival Portland Winterhawks (43-23-2-4). Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Kozun went 33-19-4-4 in 60 games this season, posted four shutouts and allowed 2.41 goals per outing, second best in the WHL. He was third in the league in save percentage (.915), sixth in total saves (1,499), fourth in wins and fourth in minutes played.

For his efforts, Kozun was the T-Birds’ Most Valuable Player.

“It’s a huge honor. I couldn’t have had the season I did without that ‘D’ (defensive) corps in front of me,” a humble Kozun said. “I mean, they did an exceptional job. Any one of them could have won the award.”

Change does him good

Kozun has grown in confidence since his arrival in Kent last season. T-Birds general manager Russ Farwell pulled a deal with the Kamloops (British Columbia) Blazers at the trade deadline to acquire the Canadian.

“It’s been a good change for me. Everything has gone exceptionally well here,” Kozun said. “All the guys have been great, the coaching staff unbelievable.”

Kozun’s love for the game came early, naturally.

Born and raised in the small town of Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Kozun was on skates by age 3. The tyke’s first action came in the basement where he joined his brothers, Tad and Austyn, in firing pucks at their dad, Vern.

In youth league play, Kozun was persistent but it took time to emerge. He was never selected in the bantam draft, didn’t make a AAA midget team in his first year of eligibility and was the Nipawin Hawks’ backup as a 17-year-old in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Still, he watched, learned and grew, backing up established goalkeepers in Nipawin and Kamloops before getting his chance in Kent.

Kozun today draws inspiration from his hard-working family, who keeps track of his career from afar, traveling great distances to catch some of his games away from the ShoWare Center and picking up streaming highlights over the Internet. His dad operates his own construction company. His mom, Colleen, works as a pharmacist technician.

“It’s a three-stoplight town,” Kozun said of his hometown. “I miss the snowstorms and winter atmosphere there.”

At Kent, Kozun has adjusted to his temporary home and the important role he plays for the T-Birds.

For Kozun, the challenge is getting better as he grooms his game for a shot at the next level.

Kozun honed his skills at the Washington Capitals Development Camp last summer and hopes a professional opportunity comes his way as a free-agent signee once his career with the T-Birds ends this spring.

He has dreams of making the NHL.

Confidence continues to fuel his passion.

“If you’re on your game, you feel like no shot can beat you,” he said. “But if you’re thinking to yourself a little bit too much, then any shot can beat you. It’s just the mental preparation that you do before that game that gets you in that zone or gets you set for the game.

“You really have to be ready all the time,” he added. “If you blink your eye at the wrong time, the puck will be going one way and you’ll be going the other, and the puck will wind up in the back of the net. You just have to be mentally ready and focused for the whole game.”

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Playoff glance

Seattle vs. Portland, best-of-seven, first-round WHL series

Game 1 – Seattle at Portland, March 28, 6 p.m. (Veterans Memorial Coliseum)

Game 2 – Seattle at Portland, March 29, 5 p.m. (Moda Center)

Game 3 – Portland at Seattle, March 31, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 – Portland at Seattle, April 2, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 – Seattle at Portland, April 4, 6 p.m.* (VMC)

Game 6 – Portland at Seattle, April 7, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 7 – Seattle at Portland, April 8, 7 p.m.* (VMC)

*If necessary