Buffalo Sabres centre Dylan Cozens had just finished a gruelling summer off-ice session when he and trainer Ben McPherson drove out into the Yukon wilderness to go fishing.

91裸聊视频淚 know the spot,91裸聊视频� McPherson recalled Cozens saying. And within 10 minutes of casting his line, Cozens hooked a big one.

91裸聊视频淗e probably had that thing on the line for 40 minutes, and remember, he just had a workout prior to that, deadlifts and hinges. And he91裸聊视频檚 doing the same thing with the fish,91裸聊视频� McPherson said. 91裸聊视频淗e was exhausted by the end of it, a 40-something-pound lake trout. 91裸聊视频� It was like the biggest fish I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen.91裸聊视频�

The moment two summers ago has stayed with McPherson because it exemplified the determination Cozens puts into each task 91裸聊视频� training, fishing, hockey.

91裸聊视频淐ompetitive, like, he wants the biggest fish in the lake,91裸聊视频� McPherson said before showing off a picture of Cozens91裸聊视频� catch.

Maybe there is something beyond fish in Yukon91裸聊视频檚 fresh waters helping Canada91裸聊视频檚 remote territory 91裸聊视频� best known for the Klondike gold rush 91裸聊视频� in producing NHL-calibre talent.

, Cozens was selected 7th overall by Buffalo 91裸聊视频� the first Yukoner chosen in the first round. In his fifth NHL season, he is an established top-line, two-way player with 66 goals and 166 points in 282 games.

Gavin McKenna, who like Cozens is from Yukon91裸聊视频檚 capital of Whitehorse, at 16 is already projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. In his first full season with the WHL91裸聊视频檚 Medicine Hat, McKenna had 34 goals and 97 points in 61 games to earn Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year honours.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e seeing more and more competitive players come out of there, so it91裸聊视频檚 really awesome to see,91裸聊视频� said Cozens, who is 23. 91裸聊视频淚 think I put Yukon on the map, but Gavin91裸聊视频檚 going to really put it on the map.91裸聊视频�

McKenna91裸聊视频檚 father, Willy, crowed how Whitehorse could become the Cole Harbour of the north, referring to the Nova Scotia hometown of Pittsburgh91裸聊视频檚 Sidney Crosby and Colorado91裸聊视频檚 Nathan MacKinnon.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the long winters that the kids have here, and their he added, before crediting Cozens for showing what was possible.

91裸聊视频淗e kind of paved the way for Gavin, even though Gavin would have tried his hardest regardless,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t definitely gave Gavin a little more hope.91裸聊视频�

The two players know each other, with McKenna being friends with Cozens91裸聊视频� younger brother Luke. They share the same trainer. Both grew up spending the long dark winter days skating on backyard rinks built by their fathers and left Whitehorse at a young age to chase their dream of big-time hockey.

Cozens left for suburban Vancouver at 14, two years after he broke his tibia and fibula while being crushed into the boards during a game against adults. McKenna was 12 when he left to attend a hockey academy in Kelowna, British Columbia.

His father grew emotional, recalling how his son arrived with a broken wrist and then broke the other wrist during his first practice.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why it kind of breaks me up a bit because 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� McKenna said, pausing to catch his breath. 91裸聊视频淵ou know, any normal kid would have just said, `I want to go home,91裸聊视频� which he didn91裸聊视频檛 do. 91裸聊视频� I think going through that and being on his own, he probably proved to himself, `Yeah, I can do it.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Gavin McKenna credits his family and the Whitehorse community, which rallied to his support when he held raffles and fundraisers to defray the costs of flying out of town 12 to 18 times a year for hockey.

91裸聊视频淚 do my best to give back to the community, helping with hockey camps for the younger kids coming out,91裸聊视频� said McKenna, who is also proud of his Tr始ond毛k Hw毛ch始in First Nation heritage. 91裸聊视频淚 want to be a big motivator for Indigenous people and young athletes to believe in themselves and hopefully influence them and their dreams and their goals.91裸聊视频�

Cozens remembers the friends and family members who made the 2 1/2-hour flight to attend the 2019 draft. Whitehorse has since developed a Sabres fan base, where most bars broadcast Buffalo games and feature a Cozens jersey hanging on the wall.

, Cozens has bought a new boat and a plot of land with a panoramic view of the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Returning home each off-season offers Cozens a chance to reconnect with nature and refresh his mind.

Cozens arrived in Buffalo last month determined to change the trajectory of a team in the midst of .

Reminded of the battle of landing the lake trout, Cozens recalled the relief and sense of accomplishment sweeping over him once the fish was finally secured. It91裸聊视频檚 no different than what he envisions it will feel like luring success back to Buffalo.

91裸聊视频淚 know that day we win the Stanley Cup, it91裸聊视频檒l be so much excitement, so much, but also a lifelong goal achieved,91裸聊视频� Cozens said.

In other words, he has even bigger fish to fry.

91裸聊视频淎lways,91裸聊视频� Cozens said.