2017-18 Most Valuable Player and Forward of the Year: Jakov Novak, Janesville Jets
The 19-year-old native of Riverside, Ontario, put together a remarkable season for the Jets. Novak, who is committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for Bentley University in the fall, led all NAHL players in scoring during the regular season with 73 points in 56 games played. That included 32 goals, which also tied for the NAHL lead. He also led the NAHL with a +41 rating during the regular season, showing his talent at both ends of the ice. Novak (6’3/200) was also selected to and played in the 2018 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, where he improved his NHL Draft stock by recording four points in two games for one of the two NAHL Selects teams. Novak is one of several NAHL players who were listed in the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Draft Rankings for the 2018 NHL Draft. In his two-year NAHL career, he has recorded 101 points in 108 career regular season games.
“The first thing you notice about Novak is his size,” Dibble said. “He’s six foot three, over two hundred pounds, can skate, and can shoot the puck like a pro. What’s amazing is his release. At a young age, he already has the release of a pro hockey player, which a lot of us got to see this weekend on a couple of his goals. Ultimately, though, Jakov is also an extremely professional human, just like Schaedig, in the way he carries himself and prepares for his games. He’s a kid with an extremely high ceiling.”
“The first time I met Jakov, I knew he was a pro,” said Joe Dibble, who stepped down as Jets head coach/general manager prior to the 2017-18 season, in the release. “The way he plays hockey, the way he takes care of himself and dedicates himself to getting better every day. You don’t see that in many players his age. Even as a rookie I was very impressed with how he carried himself on and off the ice, and how he improved not even month to month or game to game, but practice to practice. Every hour of every day he’s thinking about getting better, and he’s not done yet. Ottawa has themselves one hell of a prospect.”
I have nothing to add but I am interested in how to say his name.
I really hope it's yak-ov
If tkachuk reaches his potential it’s a win regardless. But looks like we got some nice gravy in there.A 7th rounder is fun because you have a lot of time to let him develop. A long term project that reminds me a bit of Ryan Dzingel. Sometimes it pays off. Didn't know this guy had intriguing potential as well.
Man, this draft could be another that pays up big time for Ottawa.
I get hes tall and fast...but does he have any hockey I.Q?Dark Horse.
Who knows? Head scout Trent Mann seems to think they got a potential player here so I guess we'll see. They have been known to find some decent players in the late rounds before.I get hes tall and fast...but does he have any hockey I.Q?
2018-19 |
![]() | NCAA | 37 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 1 | | | - | ||||||
2019-20 | ![]() | NCAA | 35 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 84 | 3 | | | - | ||||||
2020-21 | ![]() | NCAA | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 0 | | |
He’ll be a player... he’s big and a really good skater... I’m just not sure how good the hands are... 15G grinding third liner or 30G power forward
He's gonna win a Cy Young with those stats.