Koji Gibson is a 19-year-old forward for the Tri-City Americans, entering his first season of major junior hockey after making the jump from Junior A.
Through his first 11 games, Gibson has recorded three points while moving up and down the lineup as he continues to find his role with the Americans. He has also had to battle through an upper-body injury early in the season, making the transition a little more challenging.
Despite those obstacles, Gibson has enjoyed his experience making the jump to the WHL and discussed how the transition from the BCHL to major junior hockey has gone so far.
“It’s been unreal. The guys on the team, they obviously push you a lot harder every day. The BCHL was awesome, but with the rule change happening, it was tough to kind of get that team structure and chemistry because guys are going in and out all the time. But here, you’re building a team and it’s overall been really good.”
Gibson is also committed to Northern Michigan University, the same school former Tri-City Americans forward Carter MacAdams was committed to before eventually taking the USports route.
Gibson discussed his decision to commit to Northern Michigan and what ultimately made the school the right fit for him.
“They approached me kind of around December, a little earlier in the year actually. Luckily, my coach, when I was in U18, played there, and he put in a good word for me. I went on a visit in December and they gave me every reason to commit there.”
While Gibson has his future at the collegiate level lined up, there is also the possibility of returning to Tri-City next season and getting the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Kenzo Gibson, who was selected in the first round of the WHL Prospects Draft this past spring.
When asked about the possibility of playing with his brother next season, Koji made it clear he would welcome the opportunity.
“Obviously, it depends on how this season goes, but I’d never say no to play with him and there is a 100% possibility that could happen.”
The WHL was always something Gibson had considered. He was originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the fifth round of the 2021 WHL Draft, but ultimately took a different route as he worked toward his future in hockey.
Gibson explained that although the WHL was always on his radar, past injuries played a role in his decision to pursue the NCAA route.
“100%, it’s the best league out there, but for me, I have had some adversity with injuries and things like that, so I kind of wanted a long runway which is kind of why I went the NCAA route instead. But, when the rule change happened, it was a no brainer to try and make it to the WHL.”
His younger brother also played a significant role in his decision to join Tri-City rather than potentially pursuing an opportunity with another WHL organization.
“Definitely with my brother getting drafted here it had a big impact on my decision. He is four years younger so it is pretty hard to play with someone like that due to the age difference, but it was still a no-brainer.”
Last Saturday, Gibson got his first opportunity to share the ice with his younger brother in Prince George, as Kenzo made his WHL debut at just 15 years old.
Although the two did not play on the same line, they did get a brief opportunity to be on the ice together, something Koji described as a special experience.
“It was awesome, we didn’t get on the same line, but we ended up getting out there together I think once for a short time, we almost got scored on, thankfully not, but it was a really cool experience to play with him.”
With plenty of hockey still ahead, Gibson has set some clear goals for his first season in the WHL. After dealing with injuries the past few seasons, staying healthy and consistently getting into the lineup are among his biggest priorities.
“For me, it’s just getting reps in. Like I said I have had some injuries in the past and missed out on quite a few games. But, with this league having 68 games, it’s just getting in every night and contributing as much as I can and then just preparing for the next level.”
Although Gibson is a rookie in the WHL, he brings a veteran presence from his previous years of junior hockey to a relatively young Tri-City locker room.
With his collegiate future at Northern Michigan already in place and the possibility of playing alongside his younger brother down the road, Gibson has plenty to look forward to. For now, his focus remains on getting comfortable at the major junior level, staying healthy, and continuing to contribute to the Americans throughout his 19-year-old campaign.
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