Buffalo Sabres centre Dylan Cozens had just finished a gruelling summer off-ice session when he and trainer Ben McPherson drove out into the Yukon wilderness to go fishing.

香蕉视频直播淚 know the spot,香蕉视频直播� McPherson recalled Cozens saying. And within 10 minutes of casting his line, Cozens hooked a big one.

香蕉视频直播淗e probably had that thing on the line for 40 minutes, and remember, he just had a workout prior to that, deadlifts and hinges. And he香蕉视频直播檚 doing the same thing with the fish,香蕉视频直播� McPherson said. 香蕉视频直播淗e was exhausted by the end of it, a 40-something-pound lake trout. 香蕉视频直播� It was like the biggest fish I香蕉视频直播檝e ever seen.香蕉视频直播�

The moment two summers ago has stayed with McPherson because it exemplified the determination Cozens puts into each task 香蕉视频直播� training, fishing, hockey.

香蕉视频直播淐ompetitive, like, he wants the biggest fish in the lake,香蕉视频直播� McPherson said before showing off a picture of Cozens香蕉视频直播� catch.

Maybe there is something beyond fish in Yukon香蕉视频直播檚 fresh waters helping Canada香蕉视频直播檚 remote territory 香蕉视频直播� best known for the Klondike gold rush 香蕉视频直播� in producing NHL-calibre talent.

, Cozens was selected 7th overall by Buffalo 香蕉视频直播� the first Yukoner chosen in the first round. In his fifth NHL season, he is an established top-line, two-way player with 66 goals and 166 points in 282 games.

Gavin McKenna, who like Cozens is from Yukon香蕉视频直播檚 capital of Whitehorse, at 16 is already projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. In his first full season with the WHL香蕉视频直播檚 Medicine Hat, McKenna had 34 goals and 97 points in 61 games to earn Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year honours.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e seeing more and more competitive players come out of there, so it香蕉视频直播檚 really awesome to see,香蕉视频直播� said Cozens, who is 23. 香蕉视频直播淚 think I put Yukon on the map, but Gavin香蕉视频直播檚 going to really put it on the map.香蕉视频直播�

McKenna香蕉视频直播檚 father, Willy, crowed how Whitehorse could become the Cole Harbour of the north, referring to the Nova Scotia hometown of Pittsburgh香蕉视频直播檚 Sidney Crosby and Colorado香蕉视频直播檚 Nathan MacKinnon.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the long winters that the kids have here, and their he added, before crediting Cozens for showing what was possible.

香蕉视频直播淗e kind of paved the way for Gavin, even though Gavin would have tried his hardest regardless,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t definitely gave Gavin a little more hope.香蕉视频直播�

The two players know each other, with McKenna being friends with Cozens香蕉视频直播� younger brother Luke. They share the same trainer. Both grew up spending the long dark winter days skating on backyard rinks built by their fathers and left Whitehorse at a young age to chase their dream of big-time hockey.

Cozens left for suburban Vancouver at 14, two years after he broke his tibia and fibula while being crushed into the boards during a game against adults. McKenna was 12 when he left to attend a hockey academy in Kelowna, British Columbia.

His father grew emotional, recalling how his son arrived with a broken wrist and then broke the other wrist during his first practice.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 why it kind of breaks me up a bit because 香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈�� McKenna said, pausing to catch his breath. 香蕉视频直播淵ou know, any normal kid would have just said, `I want to go home,香蕉视频直播� which he didn香蕉视频直播檛 do. 香蕉视频直播� I think going through that and being on his own, he probably proved to himself, `Yeah, I can do it.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Gavin McKenna credits his family and the Whitehorse community, which rallied to his support when he held raffles and fundraisers to defray the costs of flying out of town 12 to 18 times a year for hockey.

香蕉视频直播淚 do my best to give back to the community, helping with hockey camps for the younger kids coming out,香蕉视频直播� said McKenna, who is also proud of his Tr始ond毛k Hw毛ch始in First Nation heritage. 香蕉视频直播淚 want to be a big motivator for Indigenous people and young athletes to believe in themselves and hopefully influence them and their dreams and their goals.香蕉视频直播�

Cozens remembers the friends and family members who made the 2 1/2-hour flight to attend the 2019 draft. Whitehorse has since developed a Sabres fan base, where most bars broadcast Buffalo games and feature a Cozens jersey hanging on the wall.

, Cozens has bought a new boat and a plot of land with a panoramic view of the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Returning home each off-season offers Cozens a chance to reconnect with nature and refresh his mind.

Cozens arrived in Buffalo last month determined to change the trajectory of a team in the midst of .

Reminded of the battle of landing the lake trout, Cozens recalled the relief and sense of accomplishment sweeping over him once the fish was finally secured. It香蕉视频直播檚 no different than what he envisions it will feel like luring success back to Buffalo.

香蕉视频直播淚 know that day we win the Stanley Cup, it香蕉视频直播檒l be so much excitement, so much, but also a lifelong goal achieved,香蕉视频直播� Cozens said.

In other words, he has even bigger fish to fry.

香蕉视频直播淎lways,香蕉视频直播� Cozens said.