One day Toledo Walleye fans will most likely get to say they saw future Detroit Red Wings goaltender Sebastian Cossa when he was just a minnow.
But it's difficult to actually call the 6-foot-6 and 210-pound Cossa a fledgling Fish. The young netminder is expected to be the Red Wings goaltender of the future.
Cossa has made his pro debut this season for the Walleye and coach Dan Watson has not hesitated to give him a heavy workload. And the 20-year-old netminder is making the most of his opportunity.
A native of Hamilton, Ont., Cossa was the Red Wings' first-round draft choice in the 2021 NHL draft.
Cossa has played in 41 of Toledo's 65 games and has played in the third most minutes (2,383) in the ECHL. Cossa also ranks fifth in the ECHL in goals-against average (2.44).
“I think I'm in a good place, making saves here,” Cossa said. “I just want to keep the boys in it. That's my job. I just keep trying to take away their scoring opportunities.”
Cossa had a stellar junior career in the Western Hockey League.
He 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).
Cossa then posted a 16-3-0 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in the playoffs in leading Edmonton to the WHL championship. He was named to the WHL all-star team.
Cossa has a 24-14-0 record for the Walleye. His four shutouts are tied with teammate John Lethemon for the ECHL lead. He also ranks third in the league in wins (24).
“I love his compete level and he's getting stronger as well,” Watson said. “He's working out probably a little bit harder than most of our players with all he does on the side. One of his development things is to get stronger and he has and so I think that's helping his game.”
Forward Brandon Hawkins, who leads the team in scoring with 74 points in 60 games, said he has been impressed with the level of growth in the young goalie.
“He's matured so much this season and he's such a good goaltender,” Hawkins said. “And he's also such a great person. I couldn't be happier for him.”
Cossa played in five straight games for the Walleye from March 17-26, including three games in a row last weekend. During the Walleye's recent unprecedented 18-game winning streak Cossa won 10 games.
“He's been playing great for the last two and a half months,” forward Gordie Green said. “He's been playing awesome. It's just nice having him every night. You feel comfortable knowing he's back there.”
Fellow rookie Ryan Cox, who just joined the team earlier this month, said he has been impressed with the play of the young netminder.
“He's been great,” Cox said. “He definitely gives us a chance to win every night. So that's all you can ask for.”
Cossa earned the ECHL's goaltender of the week honors for March Feb. 27 to March 5. He posted a 2-0-0 record with one shutout, a 0.50 goals-against average, and a save percentage of .982.
The 20-year-old also has appeared in three American Hockey League games this season with Grand Rapids.
Cossa, who started his pro career in Toledo in November, appeared in 98 career games with Edmonton in the Western Hockey League. He posted a 71-16-7 record with 14 shutouts, a 2.12 goals-against average, and a save percentage of .921 in junior hockey.
He has formed one of the most potent goaltending tandems in the ECHL, pairing with Lethemon, who won the ECHL's goalie of the month award for February. Lethemon, who is currently called up to Grand Rapids, posted a 6-0-0 record with three shutouts in February. He also posted a 0.67 goals-against average and a save percentage of .976.
Cossa and Lethemon hope to guide the Walleye to a deep playoff run. The Walleye have five games left in the regular season. Toledo, which was the first team in the ECHL to clinch a playoff spot, is currently in second place in the Central Division behind Cincinnati.
“It feels good when you start making big saves,” Cossa said. “I just try to focus on the next shot. No matter how tired I am I'll do the best I can. I just try to take it one shot at a time.”
First Published April 1, 2023, 10:21 p.m.
