'Accuracy & Power' Solidifying LA Kings Prospect Koehn Ziemmer

I recently had a chance to speak with Cougars assistant Carter Rigby, who discussed Ziemmer’s game, glowing about what the youngster brings to his team both on and off the ice.

Of his plethora of qualities, though, few are more conspicuous than Ziemmer’s blistering shot.

“Koehn’s shot is one of the best shots for his age, 100%,” a matter-of-fact Rigby said. “There is not a player in our league who has the accuracy and power inside the bluelines than Koehn. With the style of play — heavy, physical play — it creates a lot of space in order to find lanes and soft areas to shoot the puck.”

Making the Most of Size

At 6-feet-0, 195 pounds, Koehn Ziemmer, while not small by any means, certainly doesn’t have the size to boast the same way a 6-foot-5 Quinton Byfield does, or even a 6-foot-3 Matt Greene did. Nevertheless, his lack of size – assuming it’s fair to call it that – has not fazed Ziemmer in the least.

“[Koehn] is not the biggest player on the ice but uses his size well when it comes to battling and competing,” Rigby explained. “He can control pucks down low and use his body to protect the puck from defenders well. Plus, he plays with an edge and is not afraid to mix it up when he has to. When he uses his size and skill, he is a very productive player for us.”

That production has come in handy for the Cougars in recent years.

In 2021-22, Ziemmer scored 30 goals and 57 points in 68 games for Prince George. Last season, the Mayerthorpe, AB, native kicked it up a notch with 41 goals and 89 points in 68 points. Additionally, while this season has him sidelined with a knee injury, Ziemmer has nonetheless made the most of his opportunities with 31 points in 20 games.

Areas to Improve

Like any developing player, however, there are areas that need attention. From Rigby’s vantage point, he sees a determined youngster looking to take every advantage of minimizing those weaknesses.

“Koehn knows his weaknesses and is improving on them daily,” noted the Cougars assistant. “His foot speed and conditioning will be his main focus in order to make the NHL and be the type of player he has to be to be successful consistently. He works with skating coaches in the summer to improve on this. This season, going through his major injury, he has worked hard to stay in shape and work on his craft while he is recovering.”

A Good Attitude

Regardless of whether he’s injured or healthy, you can bet that Ziemmer brings his best self to the locker room each and every day.

“Koehn is a very popular player on our team and is great in the room,” Rigby said glowingly. “Wearing an ‘A’ this year, which he has earned, has been great for his overall growth as a player, as well as a person. He knows he can come in and chat about his play or an issue he may be having and is always receptive to advice from the staff.”

Before wrapping up our conversation, Carter Rigby had some sound advice for his right-winger when it comes time for him to move on to the professional ranks.

“Enjoy the process of it all, first and foremost,” he noted. “It is a privilege to play pro hockey and have that as your job for a living. Put the time in now and reap the benefits later. Do the little things while no one’s watching and always make sure you are prepared, mentally and physically, for whatever challenges you may face.”

Being sidelined with an injury right now may not signal the best of times for Koehn Zimmer. But don’t believe for a second that that will faze the youngster. After all, Ziemmer’s contributions have helped form the Prince George Cougars into championship contenders in the WHL. That certainly isn’t bad for a team that has had its share of on-ice struggles prior.

Ziemmer helped the Cougars finish third in the BC Division in 2022. Then, he helped them finish second in 2023, including a second-round playoff appearance. As of now, the Cougars are first in their division and third overall. You can credit Ziemmer for that, even if he only appeared in a handful of games thus far.

He is a young, promising forward not afraid to use his size while backing things up with a blistering shot. As a result, Koehn Ziemmer is the envy of many pipelines. Credit the LA Kings for having the wherewithal to draft the 19-year-old. They selected at what should be considered a steal at 78th overall in 2023.

This will not be the last we hear of Koehn Ziemmer. He did, after all, agree to a three-year ELC with the LA Kings back in November. Be sure to stay tuned.