Tyson Kozak Bio
Tyson Kozak is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a centre for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on December 29, 2002, in Souris, Manitoba, he was selected by the Sabres in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft with the 193rd overall pick. After progressing through the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Portland Winterhawks, Kozak turned professional in 2022 and has spent time with both the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Sabres. He signed a three-year contract extension with Buffalo on July 1, 2025.
Early Life and Background
Tyson Kozak was born on December 29, 2002, in Souris, Manitoba, to Trevor Kozak and Michelle Kozak. He grew up in the Brandon, Manitoba, area, where he developed his early athletic skills playing both ice hockey and baseball. His dual-sport upbringing helped shape his competitiveness and his understanding of team play, traits that would later define his hockey career.
Kozak played his minor ice hockey with the Southwest Cougars of the Manitoba U-18 ‘AAA’ Hockey League. During the 2018–19 season, he emerged as a dynamic offensive talent, scoring 26 goals and recording 72 points in 40 games. That production caught the attention of WHL scouts and set the stage for his transition to major junior hockey.
Path to Professional Hockey
The Portland Winterhawks of the WHL selected Kozak in the sixth round, 121st overall, of the 2017 WHL bantam draft, and he signed with the team the following August. He appeared in five junior games during the 2018–19 season, including a postseason appearance as a black ace, before joining the Winterhawks full-time in 2019–20. That rookie season, he posted 13 goals and 29 points in 63 games and was named the Winterhawks Rookie of the Year.
The COVID-19 pandemic shortened his 2020–21 season, but Kozak still finished with three goals and 11 points in 18 games while also appearing in one game with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. At season’s end, the Buffalo Sabres selected him with the 193rd overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Tyson Kozak Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
After attending his first Sabres training camp, Kozak returned to Portland for the 2021–22 WHL season, where he was named co-captain alongside Clay Hanus. Centering the Winterhawks’ top line, he overcame a slow start and set career highs in goals and points midway through the year, finishing fourth in team scoring with 32 goals and 69 points in 66 games. He was recognized for his strong play with a selection to the WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star Team.
On August 19, 2022, the Sabres signed Kozak to a three-year, entry-level contract, officially beginning his professional career. He was assigned to the Rochester Americans, Buffalo’s AHL affiliate, where he scored his first professional goal on October 21, 2022, against the Syracuse Crunch. Despite missing time with injury, he finished his rookie pro season with five goals and 10 points in 55 regular season games and added two goals and five points in 14 Calder Cup playoff games.
AHL Development (2023–2024)
Kozak opened the 2023–24 season with the Rochester Americans and spent the entire year in the AHL, working to find consistency while battling recurring lower-body injuries. The injury issues limited him to 41 games, during which he managed five goals and 12 points. His perseverance through that difficult season was noted by the Americans’ coaching staff, who continued to praise his physicality and penalty-killing work.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2024–Present)
Kozak opened the 2024–25 season in Rochester, where he matched his career high with five goals through his first eight AHL games. After recording six points in 14 contests, he was promoted to the Sabres on November 29, 2024, replacing an injured Sam Lafferty. He made his NHL debut on December 5, 2024, skating on the fourth line with Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel against the Winnipeg Jets, and scored his first official NHL goal two days later against the Utah Hockey Club.
Following a strong finish to his rookie NHL season, the Sabres signed Kozak to a three-year, $2.325 million contract extension on July 1, 2025. The deal reflected the organization’s belief in his two-way potential and his continued growth as a reliable depth centre.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kozak is recognized as a responsible, defensively minded centre whose physicality and penalty-killing ability have drawn consistent praise from his coaches. He combines a strong work ethic with reliable faceoff play and a willingness to compete in hard areas of the ice. His steady development in both ends of the rink has allowed him to earn trust on lower lines while contributing secondary offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kozak’s NHL debut on December 5, 2024, against the Winnipeg Jets marked the culmination of his journey from the Southwest Cougars to the world’s top league. Although his first apparent goal was waved off for goaltender interference, he officially opened his NHL account two days later against the Utah Hockey Club. His selection to the WHL U.S. Division Second All-Star Team in 2021–22 and his Winterhawks Rookie of the Year award remain among his top junior honours.
Tyson Kozak Career Wins
While Tyson Kozak’s professional win totals continue to build, his most celebrated achievements to this point have come at the junior level. Across his WHL career with the Portland Winterhawks, he accumulated 48 goals and 109 points in 153 regular season games, establishing himself as a dependable two-way centre. In the AHL, his five-goal, 12-point performance during the 2023–24 season remains a benchmark of his offensive potential when healthy.
WHL Highlights
Kozak’s most productive WHL campaign came in 2021–22, when he finished fourth in Winterhawks scoring with 32 goals and 69 points in 66 games. He opened his WHL scoring account on September 21, 2019, assisting on a goal against the Tri-City Americans, and netted his first two junior goals one week later against the Vancouver Giants. His co-captaincy and Second All-Star Team selection that season underscored his leadership and consistency.
Other Wins and Performances
In minor hockey with the Southwest Cougars, Kozak erupted for 26 goals and 72 points in 40 games during the 2018–19 season, a breakout performance that helped cement his status as a high-upside WHL prospect. His brief appearance with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League during the 2020–21 pandemic-shortened campaign added to his varied junior résumé.
Tyson Kozak Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tyson Kozak was raised by his father, Trevor Kozak, and his mother, Michelle Kozak, in the Brandon, Manitoba, area. The family supported his development in both ice hockey and baseball throughout his childhood. Their encouragement helped shape his early athletic identity before his focus turned fully toward hockey.
Personal Life
Kozak maintains strong ties to his hometown of Souris, Manitoba, even as his professional career has taken him to Rochester, New York, and Buffalo. Details about his marital status and children are not publicly disclosed at this stage of his career.
2025 Season Performance
Tyson Kozak’s 2025 storyline centers on his continued transition from AHL prospect to full-time NHL contributor. After his November 2024 promotion, he established himself as a trusted depth centre for the Sabres, leaning on his penalty-killing reliability and faceoff consistency. His first NHL goal against the Utah Hockey Club served as a confidence-building milestone midway through the season.
The Sabres rewarded Kozak’s progress with a three-year, $2.325 million contract extension signed on July 1, 2025, signaling the organization’s confidence in his long-term role. With injuries behind him, Kozak is expected to compete for a more permanent roster spot during training camp and push for increased ice time across all three forward positions.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign, Kozak’s combination of defensive responsibility and emerging offensive touch makes him a likely candidate to contribute on the Sabres’ bottom six while occasionally moving up the lineup. His trajectory suggests a player capable of rounding into a steady two-way NHL centre in the years to come.