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Dylan Cozens at June's NHL Draft (The Canadian Press)

Cozens re-assigned to Hurricanes

Sep 26, 2019 | 11:43 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Hurricanes fans are set to see a familiar face return to the team.

Dylan Cozens, who was selected seventh overall in June’s NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres, has been re-assigned to the WHL team. The announcement was made Thursday morning (Sept. 26).

Cozens was the third WHL player chosen at the NHL draft.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound product out of Whitehorse, Yukon scored 34 goals and dished out 50 assists in 68 games with the ‘Canes last season. That included eight power-play goals, one short-handed goals and four game-winners.

During the 2019 WHL Playoffs, he tallied eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in seven games.

The centreman was the recipient of the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy in 2018, being named the WHL’s Rookie of the Year after being selected 19th overall by Lethbridge in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Over the course of 128 WHL regular season games, the 18-year-old has scored 57 goals and recorded 81 assists. On November 13, 2016, he scored in his WHL regular season debut in a game against the Saskatoon Blades.

He’s also appeared in 35 Western Hockey League playoff games, recording 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists), including three power-play goals and one short-handed goal.

The Hurricanes showed their excitement over the news on Twitter.

At the international level, Cozens won gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with Team Canada. He’s also taken part in the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (7 points in six games) and the 2019 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He serves as an alternate captain on Canada’s team. He recorded nine points, with four goals and five assists in seven games.

This latest announcement comes after two Hurricanes players were cut by the Pittsburgh Penguins training roster.

Jordy Bellerive has been assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), while Calen Addison has been re-assigned to Lethbridge’s WHL team.

READ MORE: Bellerive & Addison cut from Pittsburgh Penguins’ training roster

The Hurricanes are getting set to host the Red Deer Rebels on Friday, Sept. 27 at the ENMAX Centre. Puck drop in Lethbridge is 7:00 p.m.