Andrew Kozek

Andrew Kozek (born May 26, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Kozek was drafted 53rd overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2005 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Kozek played collegiately at the University of North Dakota from 2005 to 2009. He helped UND capture the WCHA championship in 2006, followed by a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four, where the Fighting Sioux were defeated by Boston College. In 2007, UND again made it to the NCAA Frozen Four and again fells short in the semifinal against Boston College. Kozek reached a third NCAA Frozen Four with North Dakota in 2008, but for the third consecutive year the Fighting Hawks did not get passed BC in the semis. Kozek was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team his junior year.

After his NCAA career, Kozek played for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League, seeing action in five games of the 2008–09 season. He then signed a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers and was assigned to their affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, where he made 126 AHL appearances. On March 7, 2011, Kozek was sent by the Thrashers on loan to the Hershey Bears, affiliate of the Washington Capitals, in exchange for Capitals prospect Josh Godfrey.

In the following season, Kozek embarked on his career abroad, first agreeing to a one-year stint in the Asia League Ice Hockey with the Nikko Ice Bucks. He then moved to the more competitive Austrian top-flight EBEL with Dornbirner EC for the 2012-13 campaign. He led the league in goalscoring that season, chipping in with 38 goals (plus 20 assists) in 54 games. After one year at Dornbirn, Kozek moved to EBEL rivals EHC Linz prior to the 2013–14 season. He led the Austrian top-flight in goals scored in 2012-13 and 2015–16.

In April 2016, Kozek penned a deal with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the German top-tier Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2002–03 Sicamous Eagles KIJHL 46 25 27 52 88 — — — — — 2003–04 Surrey Eagles BCHL 58 19 22 41 67 13 7 4 11 10 2004–05 Surrey Eagles BCHL 60 48 49 97 81 26 19 10 29 49 2005–06 University of North Dakota WCHA 46 7 6 13 22 — — — — — 2006–07 University of North Dakota WCHA 41 5 6 11 12 — — — — — 2007–08 University of North Dakota WCHA 42 18 3 21 18 — — — — — 2008–09 University of North Dakota WCHA 38 8 12 20 40 — — — — — 2008–09 Chicago Wolves AHL 5 2 0 2 2 — — — — — 2009–10 Chicago Wolves AHL 69 12 11 23 36 7 0 1 1 0 2010–11 Chicago Wolves AHL 57 7 5 12 43 — — — — — 2010–11 Hershey Bears AHL 14 4 4 8 2 6 1 1 2 7 2011–12 Nikko Ice Bucks ALH 36 27 13 40 76 9 3 2 5 24 2012–13 Dornbirner EC EBEL 54 38 20 58 52 — — — — — 2013–14 EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz EBEL 54 26 12 38 34 7 4 0 4 27 2014–15 EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz EBEL 54 32 23 55 52 12 8 1 9 2 2015–16 EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz EBEL 52 40 26 66 31 12 5 4 9 37 2016–17 Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers DEL 50 16 12 28 45 4 0 0 0 2 2017–18 Sport Liiga 7 2 0 2 4 — — — — — 2017–18 Mora IK SHL 4 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 2017–18 EC KAC EBEL 10 8 1 9 20 6 2 1 3 2 2018–19 EC KAC EBEL 42 18 9 27 22 15 7 7 14 16 2019–20 EC KAC EBEL 47 17 7 24 47 3 4 1 5 0 2020–21 Black Wings 1992 ICEHL 38 6 4 10 12 — — — — — 2020–21 Ravensburg Towerstars GER.2 15 5 5 10 8 6 3 2 5 2 AHL totals 145 25 20 45 83 13 1 2 3 7 AUT totals 351 185 102 287 270 55 30 14 44 84