Sebastian Cossa

Last updated

Sebastian Cossa
SebastianCossa.jpg
Cossa with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2025
Born (2002-11-21) November 21, 2002 (age 22)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Detroit Red Wings
Grand Rapids Griffins  (AHL)
NHL draft 15th overall, 2021
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2022present

Sebastian Cossa (born November 21, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

Cossa was drafted in the 2017 WHL bantam draft in the second round, thirty-sixth overall, by the Edmonton Oil Kings. As a rookie during the 2019–20 season, he posted a 21–6–3 record, with a .921 save percentage in 33 starts to finish tied for third-best in the WHL before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2019, he posted a 6–1–1–0 record, with a 1.98 goals against average (GAA), and stopped 222 of 238 shots for a 933 save percentage, and was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month. [1]

During the 2020–21 season, he posted a 17–1–1 record. He led the WHL in goals against average (1.57), save percentage (.941) and shutouts (4). By winning his first 12 starts of the year, he set a franchise record for consecutive wins in a single season by a goaltender. [2] In April 2021, he posted a 6–0–0–1 record, with a 1.61 GAA, .936 save percentage and two shutouts, and was named WHL Goaltender of the Month. [3] He was a finalist for the WHL Goaltender of the Year award, and led the Oil Kings to the best record in the league. [4]

Cossa with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2022 Sebastian Cossa 2022.05.23.jpg
Cossa with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2022

On July 23, 2021, Cossa was drafted 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL entry draft. [5] On August 14, the Red Wings signed Cossa to a three-year, entry-level contract. [6] Cossa was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of October 2021. He posted a 6–2–1–1 record in 10 games, with a 1.58 GAA, a league-best .943 save percentage, and one shutout. [7]

Cossa's professional debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins Sebastian Cossa, Grand Rapids Griffins.jpg
Cossa's professional debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins

Cossa made his professional debut for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on October 19, 2022. He made 21 saves and earned the win in a 3–2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals. He was reassigned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL the next day. [8] On January 21, 2023, Cossa earned his first professional shutout in a 5–0 victory against the Iowa Heartlanders. [9] Along with John Lethemon, Cossa helped lead the Walleye all the way to conference semifinals where they eventually lost to the league's top-seeded Idaho Steelheads 4 games to 1. [10]

During the 2023–24 season, in his first full season in the AHL, he posted a 22–9–9 record with a 2.41 GAA, .913 save percentage and two shutouts in 40 regular season games. During the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs he appeared in nine playoff games, and posted a 5–4 record, with a 2.72 GAA and .900 save percentage, as he helped the Griffins reach the Central Division Finals. [11] [12]

On December 2, 2024, Cossa was recalled by the Red Wings under emergency conditions, after placing Alex Lyon on the injured reserve retroactive to November 27, and Cam Talbot suffering a lower-body injury on December 1, in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. He began the 2024–25 season with the Griffins, where he appeared in 14 games and posted a 9–4–1 record, with a 2.21 GAA and .925 save percentage. [13] [14] Cossa subsequently made his NHL debut on December 9, entering in relief of Ville Husso after the first period. [15] He stopped 12 of 14 shots faced en route to a 6–5 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the 11th goalie in Red Wings history to earn a win in their NHL debut. [16]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Canada

On December 1, 2021, Cossa was named to the final roster for Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. [17] Serving as backup goaltender to Dylan Garand, he won gold with Team Canada. [18]

Personal life

Cossa was born in Hamilton, Ontario to Gianni and Sandra Cossa and raised in Fort McMurray, Alberta. [19] Cossa and his family are survivors of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. [20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2019–20 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 3321631,8807042.23.921
2020–21 Edmonton Oil KingsWHL1917111,1443041.57.941
2021–22 Edmonton Oil KingsWHL4633932,63110062.28.913191631,1503751.93.919
2022–23 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 31101401305.57.783
2022–23 Toledo Walleye ECHL 46261642,66711442.56.9137523891502.32.917
2023–24 Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL4022992,3899622.41.9139545512502.72.900
AHL totals43231092,52910922.72.9139545512502.72.900

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTLMINGA SO GAA SV%
2018 Canada White U17 6th2110120603.00.895
2022 Canada WJC Gold medal icon.svg110060202.00.917
Junior totals3210180802.66.906

Awards and achievements

AwardYearRef
WHL
Ed Chynoweth Cup 2022 [21]

References

  1. "Oil Kings' Cossa named WHL Vaughn Goaltender of the Month". whl.ca. January 2, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  2. "Oil Kings announce team awards led by Sebastian Cossa as MVP". oilkings.ca. May 14, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  3. "Oil Kings goaltender Cossa named WHL Goaltender of the Month". whl.ca. May 3, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. "Prospect of Interest: Sebastian Cossa could be 'a franchise-type goalie'". sportsnet.ca. July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. St. James, Helene (July 23, 2021). "Detroit Red Wings trade up for goalie Sebastian Cossa at No. 15 in NHL draft's first round". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. Kujawa, Kyle (August 14, 2021). "Red Wings sign goaltender Sebastian Cossa to entry-level contract". NHL.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  7. "Red Wings prospect Cossa named WHL Goaltender of the Month". whl.ca. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  8. "Three Players Reassigned to Toledo". griffinshockey.com. October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  9. "Cossa lands first professional shutout in 5-0 victory over Iowa". toledowalleye.com. January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  10. Streitel, Andrew. "2022-23 Player in Review: Sebastian Cossa". griffinshockey.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  11. Khan, Ansar (December 2, 2024). "Sebastian Cossa eager to soak up stint with Red Wings". MLive.com . Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  12. Mills, Jonathan (December 2, 2024). "For Cossa, earning first NHL recall to Red Wings 'a dream come true'". NHL.com. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  13. Roth, Thomas (December 2, 2024). "Red wings recall Sebastian Cossa from Grand Rapids under emergency conditions". NHL.com. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  14. Kulfan, Ted (December 2, 2024). "Red Wings recall goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa: 'Dream come true'". The Detroit News . Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  15. St. James, Helene (December 9, 2024). "Detroit Red Wings fight back from 2-goal deficit to give Sebastian Cossa win in NHL debut". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  16. Engel, Heather (December 9, 2024). "Red Wings rally, edge Sabres in shootout to end 5-game skid". NHL.com. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  17. "Hockey Canada invites 15 WHL players to National Junior Team Selection Camp". whl.ca. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  18. Sandor, Steven (August 20, 2022). "Canada defeats Finland in OT thriller for gold at world juniors in Edmonton". CBC Sports . Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  19. Kujawa, Kyle (July 23, 2021). "Detroit selects goalie Sebastian Cossa with 15th pick at 2021 NHL Draft". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  20. "Cossa recounts experiences through fires, flooding and COVID-19 in hometown Fort McMurray". oilkings.ca. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  21. "Oil Kings capture Ed Chynoweth Cup with shutout victory in Game 6 of 2022 WHL Championship". whl.ca. June 14, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Detroit Red Wings first-round draft pick
2021
Succeeded by