It was a game Dylan Cozens will never forget.

Tied 6-6 late in a game against a high-scoring U.S. team, the young centre prepared for an offensive zone faceoff with only one thing on his mind.

After winning the puck back, the Yukoner headed to the front of the net to tip his teammate’s shot, before burying the rebound deep behind the U.S. netminder.

The goal, which stood up as the game-winner, was Cozens’ fifth of the game – and seventh point – much to the chagrin of the American contingent watching from the stands.

A period earlier, Cozens singlehandedly brought his club back from a 4-1 deficit by scoring twice and assisting on a third – all while shorthanded.

The three-goal outburst happened in the span of 36 seconds.

The 13-year-old Whitehorse native starred for the Canada Cowboys – an elite AAA squad from Alberta – in the Czech Republic last month.

While his team finished off the podium at the 2014 Czech Challenger Cup, Cozens earned MVP honours after racking up nine goals and 10 assists in five games.

His points total was seven up on the rest of the field, and 12 more than the next Canada Cowboys player.

Besides the United States, the Cowboys also squared off with teams from Latvia, Sweden, Hong Kong and the host nation during the tournament.

Cozens had received an invite to join the Cowboys AAA European hockey tour the past two years, after earning MVP honours in back-to-back spring hockey tournaments with the Alberta All-Stars X-Men.

Last year, Yukoner Ryan Troke received a similar opportunity with the Canadian AAA Explorers.

Cozens said the European tournament experience was unique in many ways, on and off the ice.

“In some of the rinks, you couldn’t see the other side of the ice because of fog,” he said.

Another arena was reportedly shorter than standard size after ownership decided to claim a portion of the ice to build a concession stand.

Outside the arena, the team toured many historic sites together, including a concentration camp – an experience Cozens called “mind-blowing.”

The two-week trip saw the team bus roll through multiple cities.

Following the tournament, Cozens and his family went on to spend three weeks touring Italy.

Cozens splashed onto the hockey radar last season when he was ranked second on a list of 2001-born western Canadian hockey prospects.

The list, published by Western Elite Hockey Prospects, was compiled by a network of Western Hockey League scouts.

The Grade 8 student at Porter Creek Secondary said playing major junior hockey continues to be his number one goal.

“Two years from now, I want to make the bantam draft,” Cozens told the Star this week.

After spending much of last season with his right leg in a cast after his tibia and fibula were broken in a rec league hockey game, Cozens said he feels like he has finally returned to form.

Following his recovery, he played in four spring hockey tournaments in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

However, during his second game in Edmonton, he suffered an injury setback when he was targeted by an opponent with an illegal check to the knees.

Following the hit, Cozens laid on the ice in excruciating pain, before being taken away by ambulance.

“I was scared that I broke my femur again,” he admitted.

While the injury was not as serious as initially feared, it did set the youngster back in his recovery process.

The 5-foot-10, 130-pound forward continued to play spring hockey wearing a knee brace.

This week, Cozens was one of 21 players to crack the Bantam Mustangs roster following a two-week training camp.

“It was nice to see him almost back to normal after his many injuries this year,” his mom, Sue Bogle, said of the European experience. “The hockey was fun, but they were really focused on making it an experience.”

The summer tournament was held July 27 to Aug. 10. The team played three exhibition games before official tournament play began.