Rookie goaltender Sebastian Cossa, a highly regarded prospect in the Detroit Red Wings organization, has started in seven of the Toledo Walleye’s first eight games.
The 19-year-old won his first three games in a Walleye uniform and was the starter in both the team's season and home openers.
Cossa (6-foot-6, 209 pounds) was a first-round draft choice, taken 15th overall, in the 2021 NHL draft by the Red Wings. He had a stellar junior career in the Western Hockey League.
■ Friday: home vs. Wheeling (4-6-0-0, 4th Central Division)
■ Saturday: home vs. Indy (6-2-1-0, 2nd)
The native of Hamilton, Ont. also has played in two games this season for the Walleye's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.
In Toledo, Cossa has posted a 4-2-1 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
Cossa has logged the second most minutes among all ECHL goaltenders with 427. He also ranks third in overall saves. Cossa also is among the top 20 goalies in the ECHL in goals-against average.
His best outing came on Friday night at rival Fort Wayne when he stopped 40 shots in a 2-1 win.
Walleye coach Dan Watson said the Walleye are sticking to the plan laid out by the Red Wings organization for Cossa.
“He has played really well for us,” Watson said. “He needs to play games and get minutes in order to develop his game. The last two games he has looked very sharp and has really given us a chance to win. Overall, I can see the progress in his game. We are fortunate to have him.”
Cossa played in 46 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings last regular season and finished with a 33-9-3 record with six shutouts. Cossa posted a 2.28 goals-against average (ranked third in the league) and a .913 save percentage (fourth).
The Red Wings also sent another goaltender to Toledo this week, former Michigan State netminder John Lethemon.
A native of Northville, Mich., Lethemon has played in 57 games in the ECHL for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits the last two seasons. Last year, Lethemon posted a 15-11-6 record with a 2.69 goals-against average and .911 save percentage for Greenville. Lethemon has a 28-16-11 with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in two seasons with Greenville.
Lethemon was on injured reserve to start the season and is practicing with the Walleye this week with the expectation that he will play for Toledo this weekend. The Walleye host Wheeling on Friday and Indy on Saturday.
HAWK-LESS: Forward Brandon Hawkins, who scored a team-high 35 goals in 52 games last season, earned a call up to the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
Hawkins had three points with two goals and one assists in three games for the Walleye before he was promoted Nov. 9. Hawkins has played in three games for the Wolves and does not have point with one shot on goal.
The 28-year-old native of Macomb, Mich., nearly became the organization's single-season scoring leader, tying for the ECHL lead in goals scored with 35 goals in just 52 games.
Watson, who faces the catch-22 of developing players only to lose them to call ups, said he is happy for his productive forward.
“Hopefully he does well enough that doesn't come back,” Watson said. “That's the wish we have for all our guys, making sure they are prepared so when they do get the call that they put their best foot forward, and that's the ultimately what they want — to move up to the next level, and that's our job.”
First Published November 17, 2022, 5:43 p.m.
