Rick Strachan told skysports.com that the Stingrays are glad to see the back of Rick Kozak.
Stingrays glad to see the back of Canadian tough guy
Hull coach Rick Strachan has told
skysports.com that the Stingrays are happy to see the back of Rick Kozak.
Former NHL draft pick Kozak has parted ways with the Stingrays, leaving Humberside without a reported deal to play elsewhere.
The Stingrays stood by Kozak after he was suspended for 10 games for sucker-punching Nottingham's Marc Levers, but when the Canadian returned to the line-up the relationship turned sour.
Kozak is the third import player to leave the club this season, following Jonathan Bernier and Jake Riddle out of the door.
And in an exclusive interview with
skysports.com, Strachan said he is glad to move on without him.
"You always bring guys in and hope that things will work out," Strachan said.
"(Bernier) left of his own accord, (Riddle) was told to leave because there's no room for selfish behaviour and (Kozak) wanted to leave and we wanted him to go too.
Feisty
"(Kozak) was a huge talent but a huge distraction and the other guys here were happy to see him go."
Kozak, who only appeared in five games for the Stingrays before flying home this weekend, was supposed to help transform Hull into a feisty and tough team.
However, things did not go as planned and Strachan has been forced to make changes.
The Stingrays found replacements for Bernier and Riddle quickly in the shape of defenceman Aaron Wilson and forward Konstantin Kalmikov and will now look for another import.
Strachan, who has relied on team captain Troy Neumeier and veteran Jeff Glowa to provide leadership through a difficult start to the season, believes he now has the right atmosphere in the locker room.
"All the guys who are here now are the ones who want to be here and want to make a contribution," Strachan added.
"Everyone here on the team at the moment has done a good job of keeping the locker room together. There's been some turmoil and guys going, but right now we're happy where we are."
