Peter Kozushka, who grew up on a farm near Hampton, south of Canora, is a highly rated offensive lineman that teams are watching closely for the upcoming CFL draft after excelling as a member of the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team.
Kozushka, who is listed at 6 ft. 7 in. tall and 320 pounds, credits his parents Mike and Madalina for helping him pursue his dream of a professional football career. Mike played for the Canora Composite High School football team during his high school days in the late 1960s, giving him an added level of appreciation for his son’s progress.
“I’m totally proud of him,” said Mike. “It’s his own doing, with the effort that he’s put in to achieve what he has achieved. There’s a lot of work and time put in that people don’t see in achieving your goals. He has made so many sacrifices to get where he is.”
Peter said he started playing football in Yorkton when he was in Grade 5, and took to the sport pretty much right away.
“I was always a bigger kid,” he recalled. “A thing I like about football, no matter kind of body type you have, there’s a spot for you. Playing on the offensive line, I can use my size to my advantage. I really couldn’t do that before outside of football. Mom and Dad were always involved in sports and encouraged their kids to take part.”
Peter’s older brother Michael also excelled at football, and they played together right from when they were kids through to their university careers.
“Michael also played offensive line with the Golden Bears,” said Peter. “It was good having the opportunity to be teammates, his last season was 2019. He helped me make a smooth transition from high school to the University of Alberta. He’s only about 6 ft. 2 in. tall.”
Like many youngsters who grew up in Saskatchewan, Peter had visons of playing for the beloved Roughriders when he was older.
“Growing up watching the Riders, there was always the Sask. kid in me dreaming. And I noticed they always seem to have a lot of Saskatchewan players. I started getting serious about football in high school. In addition to the football opportunity, I realized it could provide an education for my future outside of football.”
During his career at Yorkton Regional High School, Kozushka was selected for Team Saskatchewan in 2013-2014, as well as Team Canada in 2015, the year he graduated.
Then came the time to choose a university. Even though his brother was already at the University of Alberta, he wanted to be sure to make the right choice that would be a good fit for him
“I talked to a bunch of programs, but head coach Chris Morris of the Golden Bears was the most genuine and honest,” shared Kozushka. “We made a good connection and it turned out to be good timing. I was offered a scholarship, and it was a rebuild for the team when I started. That made it so special- after the team had been down, we became a perennial playoff team after I got there and it was so cool to be part of it.”
His university football career started slowly, as injury problems kept Kozushka out of action for two years. He made the roster for the first time in 2017, and 2018 was his first year as a starter.
“I played mostly at left tackle, protecting the quarterback’s blind side. In 2017 we made the playoffs, and then again in 2019. There was something special whenever we were together, in the locker room or just hanging out, it felt like a family. Unfortunately, this past year a lot of that was impossible due to COVID.”
Kozushka has always been an offensive lineman and thoroughly enjoys the unique challenges involved, which go well beyond size and strength.
“All five guys on the line have to work as one, otherwise nothing gets done,” he explained. “I think it’s unique to football, having that teamwork on the O-Line. We don’t get stats like the other positions- passing yards, running yards, TD passes. It’s all about teamwork.”
Getting to where he is now has been difficult, but rewarding at the same time.
“Every step you climb up, high school to university, university to pro, the margin of error is smaller, because everyone is that much better. Only a few guys move up from high school to university, and then even fewer to the pro level. But I enjoy the challenge every time I move up.”
The latest listing had Kozushka as the 11th ranked eligible player for the upcoming CFL draft, which is expected to take place in May. Most players would say that they’re thrilled just to be chosen and don’t care where they land on draft day, but Kozushka made it abundantly clear that “I’m hoping to go to the Riders.”
The next big thing for his football career is the CFL combine, probably sometime in March. This includes performing a variety of tests and drills designed specifically for offensive lineman, as well as one-on-one competitions with defensive players. Kozushka is hard at work, getting his mind and body ready for the challenge on a daily basis.
“On a typical day I wake up at 5 a.m., work out, have breakfast, go to work at my job at Farm Credit Canada, then do physio, and I’m in bed by 9 p.m.”
Kozushka credits his parents, his Golden Bears head coach Chris Morris, and his high school football coaches for playing important roles in helping him excel as a football player. Another important factor was growing up on a farm.
“The farm teaches life lessons that serve a person well no matter what they do,” said Peter, to which his father Mike added, “Growing up on a farm taught him the value of hard work.”
Peter studied business at the University of Alberta, and when his football career comes to an end, hopefully a number of years from now, he would like to use his business degree to give back to the community in some way.
But in the more immediate future, Kozushka’s plans are to be playing on a CFL team during the 2022 season.
“Even though I’ve played mostly left tackle so far, I would be willing to play centre, guard, tackle, wherever I’m needed.”
