LetsGoDU

Bozak From Kazakhstan Scores In BCHL

(left) Bozak received a regal send off from the leaders of Kazakhstan before joining the Victoria Grizzles

From: The Province
by Steve Erwin
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Last season DU Recruit Tyler Bozak scored 69 points in the British Columbia Hockey League. He's five points behind that total right now, despite having played 30 fewer games.

"He's a guy with great numbers, but he's also one of our most competitive guys," said Victoria coach Rylan Ferster.

"Sometimes on teams, your most talented guys will take shortcuts because they can. Tyler doesn't take any shortcuts."

Bozak credits his improvement to his linemates, fellow speedsters Gary Nunn and Jamie Benn, and to how much better the entire team has gotten the past couple of years.

In Bozak's rookie campaign two seasons ago the club was the second from the bottom; this time around they're challenging for the league title.

Ferster says that it's simply an offshoot of Bozak having two seasons under his belt, and the confidence he picked up thanks to Victoria upsetting the Nanaimo Clippers and Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the 2005-06 playoffs.

Whatever it is, it's been noted.

Bozak was receiving interest from second-tier U.S. schools last season, but the big hitters came to play this year.

Bozak eventually accepted a scholarship from powerhouse University of Denver, after also talking to the likes of Maine and Cornell.

"Nobody really noticed me last year, but when they came out this year they liked what they saw," said Bozak, a Regina native who is Victoria's captain. "The first time I talked to Denver I was really excited.

"I knew that they had won two national championships in the past three seasons.

"The program there is phenomenal.

"I'm glad I've decided now. The whole thing swamped me a bit."

Bozak doesn't get swamped on the ice, which is part of his appeal. He carries only about 165 pounds on his 6-foot frame, but he plays fearlessly.

"He'd rather go through you than around you," said Ferster.

"And that sometimes scares you a bit."

Bozak added: "I try to get involved in all the battles. It gets me more pumped up. I like to get in the scrums, and throw my body around as much as possible.