Red Wings First Rounder Sebastian Cossa Has Local Ties

In the not too distant future, Chatham-Kent hockey fans may be again travelling across the border to cheer on the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.

The team drafted their goaltender of the future in the 2021 NHL Draft, choosing six-foot-six goalie Sebastian Cossa 15th overall.

Looking at Cossa’s stat lines with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, and before that in Fort Saskatchewan and Fort McMurray, you might think he belongs exclusively to the Western provinces, however Cossa’s family originated only a short drive from Detroit in Lambton County.

His grandparents reside near Alvinston, Ontario, and Cossa still has relatives living in Chatham-Kent, in both Wallaceburg and Chatham.

Cossa’s mother Sandie Cossa (nee Playfoot) grew up in Lambton County before moving West.

Cossa himself looks like the obvious choice to be Team Canada’s starter at the upcoming World Junior Championships, and his climbing save percentage and shrinking goals against average in the Western Hockey League, which were both the best in the WHL during the shortened 2020-2021 season, have Detroit Red Wings fans excited for the future.

Although he calls Alberta home, Cossa’s roots are only a short drive across the border from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, sprinkled across Chatham-Kent and Lambton County.