John Kosiancic

John Kosiancic
Born (1937-12-27) December 27, 1937 (age 86)
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 184 lb (83 kg; 13 st 2 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Michigan Tech
Calgary Stampeders
Playing career 1957–1964

John M. Kosiancic is a Canadian retired ice hockey right wing who was an All-American for Michigan Tech.[1]

Career

After finishing his junior career with the Lethbridge Native Sons, Kosiancic began attending Michigan Tech in 1956 and joined the varsity team the following year. His first season was fairly pedestrian, but as Michigan Tech finished last in the WIHL, he led the team in goals and was second in points. In his junior season Kosiancic's totals improved significantly as the team rebounded with a 16–10–1 record. He led the team in both goals and points and was named as an AHCA East All-American.[2]

As a senior, Kosiancic helped Michigan Tech finish to a second-place finish in the newly reformed WCHA and then defeat North Dakota in two games to win the first WCHA Tournament championship (shared with Denver). The win gave the Huskies an automatic NCAA tournament berth and the team met St. Lawrence in the semifinal. The two appeared evenly matched through the first 25 minutes of the game but MTU exploded in the second period, scoring eight goals and bouncing the Saints 13–3.[3] They met the WCHA tournament co-champions in the finals and the two teams were well versed with one another. Denver scored the first two goals of the game, coming near the middle of the first and second periods. However, just as they had done against the Larries, Michigan Tech's offense woke up in the middle frame and scored three times in succession to take the lead. Kosiancic assisted on two of the goals, including the go-ahead marker, but Denver erased the lead at the beginning of the third. The two teams battled to no avail for much of the rest of the game and, just when it looked like overtime would be needed, Denver's John MacMillan scored with 63 seconds remaining. MTU pulled their goalie to try and even the score but Denver netted another goal to seal their victory and send the Huskies home.[4]

After graduating Kosiancic continued his playing career for several years, playing three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. He was inducted into the Michigan Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.[1]

Personal

Kosiancic was predeceased by his son Paul in 2015. No cause of death was given.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1955–56 Lethbridge Native Sons WCJHL — — — — — — — — — —
1957–58 Michigan Tech WIHL 27 15 8 23 40 — — — — —
1958–59 Michigan Tech NCAA 27 25 28 53 26 — — — — —
1959–60 Michigan Tech WCHA 32 24 31 55 30 — — — — —
1960–61 Calgary Stampeders WHL 67 13 27 40 0 5 1 0 1 0
1961–62 Calgary Stampeders WHL 69 20 22 42 13 7 1 0 1 0
1962–63 Calgary Stampeders WHL 50 15 17 32 12 — — — — —
1963–64 Drumheller Miners CAHL — — — — — — — — — —
NCAA totals 86 64 67 131 96 — — — — —
WHL totals 186 48 66 114 25 — — — — —

Awards and honors

Award Year
AHCA West All-American 1958–59 [2]
All-WCHA First Team 1959–60 [6]
All-NCAA All-Tournament Second Team 1960 [7]

References

  1. ^ a b "John M. Kosiancic". Michigan Tech Huskies. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "1958-1959 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  3. ^ "Beantown Bombing". Hill News. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Denver Pioneers 2007-08 Hockey Yearbook" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  5. ^ "Obituary for Paul Joseph Kosiancic". Smith's Funeral Homes. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "WCHA Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.