For 20 year old Riley Kosmolak, this past Monday night was a dream come true.
Kosmolak worked his first Winnipeg Jets game on Monday night in Calgary when they took on the Flames at the Saddledome in preseason action.
The former Pistons equipment manager of five years joined the Jets organization in August 2017.
“It felt unbelievable to get a chance to experience my first NHL road game, even better to be with my hometown team,” Kosmolak said via text. “Just getting a taste of preseason definitely makes you want to earn your way to be able to experience that all season long.”
Kosmolak has been working for the Manitoba Moose for the past two seasons now, and says that there’s a noticeable difference between how he works for the Moose and Jets compared to his time with Steinbach, besides the fact that they are both pro level teams.
“It’s all about the fine details in pro hockey,” he explained. “It’s the little things we (as equipment managers) do to make the players’ time at the rink as thoughtless as can be, so they can focus on their game on the ice.”
He brought some good luck, as the Jets defeated Calgary 5-4 in OT thanks to two goals by Nikolaj Ehlers.
The Pistons organization would like to congratulate Chief on working his first Jets game!