The Innovex Estevan Bears have surpassed the quarter-mark of the 2026-27 season, and among a handful of players who have had hot starts to the year, there’s one 3rd-year defenceman who has made significant impacts at both ends of the ice early on.
Reid Kosior has been a steady, physical defender for the Bears since joining the Bears in a 6-game ‘AP’ audition in 2024-25. Kosior provided much the same role over 44 games in 2025-26 on a stacked blueline and entered this season expecting to continue that shutdown role while chipping in slightly more offence.
But through 12 games in 2026-27, Kosior has not just been a solid two-way defenceman…he has been one of the top all-around blueliners in the SMAAAHL.
Entering the month of November, Kosior sits tied for 3rd overall amongst defencemen in points with 13 in 12 games. Additionally, Kosior’s 4 goals is tied for 1st overall though all 4 goals have come at even-strength, while the other five defencemen Kosior is tied with have at least one powerplay goal (four have 2 PPG).
Kosior does see time on the Bears’ powerplay but is primarily featured on the top penalty killing unit and draws even-strength matchups against the oppositions’ top offensive players. Kosior takes care of his end first, but then is quick to jump into the rush to create an odd man chance. The best example of that was Kosior’s first of two goals in a 4-2 win on October 27 over Notre Dame, where Kosior raced up to support Landen Andrusiak on a 1-on-1 and wired a snapshot top corner after receiving a wide-open pass. That offensive awareness has been on display in several Bears’ games this season, and coupled with his well-established defensive prowess, has made Reid Kosior into a legitimate top-pair defenceman on any team in the league.
Kosior will carry a 7-game point streak (4G,6A) into the Bears’ first tilt in November against Yorkton on the 3rd. If the Assistant Captain is able to continue his elevated two-way play for the rest of the season, it will give the Bears an edge on the ice anytime Kosior is out there as the team looks to make the playoffs for a 4th consecutive season.
