After scoring one of the goals of the season during the recent 4-0 routing of the Trenton Golden Hawks on home ice, Cameron Kosurko couldn’t help but get lost in the emotions pouring out of the stands.
It was a moment to remember for the 18-year-old forward, who has enjoyed a successful first season in the OJHL. With slick hands, elite skating and high hockey IQ, the teen has been backed to make a big impression in the league by coach Ryan Ramsay.
Since joining the Dogs in October, Kosurko has racked up 14 points in 43 games while playing largely on the team’s third and fourth lines. His tenacity and voracious work ethic have earned him a key role on the Huskies’ special teams during the second half of the season.
It was during a pivotal penalty kill March 27 against the Golden Hawks when Kosurko really announced himself. With the game precariously poised and the Dogs defending a 5-on-4, Kosurko took a chance, rushing out of the zone after a Golden Hawks misplay. The puck found its way to his stick, and while he missed the initial breakaway, he recovered to score an unbelievable short-handed goal.
“It was pretty special. I just stuck with the play, made a few moves and I saw an opening down low … That goal was definitely a highlight of the season for me. Just the reaction of the crowd, I got goosebumps,” Kosurko said. “That it helped to elevate us to a win over a rival team just made it all the better.”
Kosurko said he draws inspiration from Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner, and has tried to incorporate facets of his game into his own.
As the Huskies prepare for a best-of-three playoff series with the Golden Hawks, the team’s number 23 says he’s ready to go to war on the ice. “We’re into must-win territory. Every game is so important, and you have to be totally dialled in. You can’t make any mistakes,” Kosurko said. “The thing I’m most looking forward to is the crowd. Our fans have been awesome all year, and the energy inside the building for game two is going to be off the charts. That could make all the difference for us.”
While Kosurko said he’s more of a livein-the-moment type of guy, he admitted an NCAA scholarship would be a great goal for him to work towards. He hopes to be able to do that in Haliburton, having made a special connection with his teammates and wider community.
“What’s not to love [about the Highlands]. I visited here quite a lot during my childhood, going to cottages with my friends,” Kosurko said. “It’s definitely a beautiful area, and I’m so lucky that I get to chase my dreams of playing hockey in a community like this. There’s no better place [in this league] to play.”
