Jakub Málek (born April 11, 2002) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for Tampereen Ilves of the SM-liiga as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).
| Jakub Málek | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
April 11, 2002 Kroměříž, Czech Republic | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| SM-liiga team (P) Cur. team |
Tampereen Ilves New Jersey Devils (NHL) | ||
| National team |
 Czech Republic | ||
| NHL draft |
100th overall, 2021 New Jersey Devils | ||
| Playing career | 2019–present | ||
Playing career
editMálek made his first professional start at 16 years old on January 30, 2019, for VHK Vsetín of the second-tier Czech Chance Liga against HC Stadion Litoměřice, but was pulled midway through the match after conceding four goals.[1]
Returning to the Chance Liga more permanently in the 2020–21 season, Málek recorded 8 wins and a .912 save percentage in 14 games. In 7 playoff games, he recorded a .927 en route to a semifinal exit at the hands of HC Dukla Jihlava. In 21 total games at the Chance Liga level, he recorded two shutouts.[2][3] Despite not being ranked at all by NHL Central Scouting, he would be selected 100th overall in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils.[4]
On October 20, 2021, early in the 2021–22 season, Málek became the first goalie in Chance Liga history to score a goal by shooting the puck directly into the net (as opposed to being credited with a goal he didn't directly score) when he scored an empty-net goal late in a 4–1 victory over AZ Havířov.[5] He would play 31 games that season and post 22 wins, two shutouts, and a .932 save percentage, earning the league award for best goaltender and making a run to the Chance Liga finals.[6]
Moving to Finland for the 2022–23 season, Málek signed a two-year contract with Ilves of the top-level SM-liiga on May 3, 2022.[7] Early in the year, Málek was hospitalized for panic attacks caused by what he described as putting too much pressure on himself.[8] After recovering, as well as some time playing in the second-tier Mestis, he returned to Ilves and finished the season with a .903 save percentage in 22 total games.[9][10] In the playoffs, starting goaltender Marek Langhamer was unable to play midway through the semifinal series against the Lahti Pelicans, thrusting Málek into the starting role.[11]
On March 6, 2024, Ilves exercised an option in Málek's contract to sign him to a one-year extension.[12] On May 6, 2024, Málek signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Devils.[13]
International play
editMálek was set to represent Czechia at the 2022 World Junior Championship, playing in one game before the tournament's cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13][14]
Málek made his senior international debut representing Czechia in the 2023 Karjala Tournament, part of the 2023–24 Euro Hockey Tour.[12][15]
Personal life
editMálek is a supporter of the Forest Green Rovers football club. He initially discovered the team while playing EA Sports FIFA and is a fan of their environmentally conscious operations.[5]
Career statistics
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2018–19 | VHK Vsetín | CZE.2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 5.63 | .750 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | VHK Vsetín | CZE U20 2 | 31 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 1,692 | 64 | 2 | 2.27 | .927 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 249 | 6 | 2 | 1.45 | .942 | ||
| 2019–20 | HC Valašské Meziříčí | CZE.3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 127 | 7 | 0 | 3.31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | VHK Vsetín | CZE U20 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 2.00 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | HC Valašské Meziříčí | CZE.3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | VHK Vsetín | CZE.2 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 787 | 30 | 1 | 2.29 | .912 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 438 | 14 | 1 | 1.92 | .927 | ||
| 2021–22 | VHK Vsetín | CZE U20 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | .976 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | VHK Vsetín | CZE.2 | 31 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 1,847 | 60 | 3 | 1.95 | .932 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 754 | 22 | 2 | 1.75 | .933 | ||
| 2022–23 | KOOVEE | Mestis | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 364 | 17 | 1 | 2.80 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 22 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1,256 | 45 | 2 | 2.15 | .903 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 175 | 7 | 0 | 2.39 | .870 | ||
| 2022–23 | Ilves | CHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Ilves | SM-liiga | 27 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 1,528 | 59 | 2 | 2.32 | .915 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 192 | 6 | 0 | 1.87 | .910 | ||
| 2023–24 | Ilves | CHL | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | 3.55 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SM-liiga totals | 49 | 25 | 11 | 0 | 2,785 | 104 | 4 | 2.24 | .910 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 367 | 13 | 0 | 2.12 | .893 | ||||
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Chance liga | ||
| Best Junior | 2022 | [13] |
| Best Goaltender | 2022 | |
| All-Star Team | 2022 | |
References
edit- ^ Volter, Martin (February 1, 2019). "16 + 19 na Lapači. Něco nepředstavitelného, rozplývá se Sachr". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Hegeďová, Helena (April 8, 2021). "Zklamaný Málek: Nemělo to tak skončit, v sérii jsme byli lepším týmem". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Bagar, Adam (April 28, 2021). "Talent Málek pokračuje. Vsetín už má jasno o brankářské trojici". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Lazar, David (July 24, 2021). "Devils GM sticks with strategy of acquiring raw talent". nypost.com. New York Post. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Zoubek, Ondřej (October 27, 2021). "Tanec nikdo neviděl, ale jeho gól obletěl svět. Český brankář dál sní o NHL". aktualne.cz (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Hedbávny, Marek (June 1, 2022). "Brankářem prvoligové sezony je vsetínský Jakub Málek". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Seppä, Lassi (May 3, 2022). "Ilves julkaisi liudan tärkeitä sopimuksia − muun muassa HPK-kolmikko ja Peetro Seppälä edustavat jatkossa tupsukorvia". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). Jatkoaika. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Prášek, Josef (June 6, 2023). "Snad už to nikdy nezažiju... Málek o trablech, Finsku i Devils. Co rozhovory?". Hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Tracy, James J. (February 28, 2023). "New Jersey Devils European Prospect Update: Is it time to start talking about Jakub Malek?". allaboutthejersey.com. SBNation. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Flannery, Kristy (July 16, 2023). "Devils' Fitzgerald May Have Found His 'Lottery Tickets' in Filmon, Vilen, Brown, and Malek". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Kuisma, Joonas (April 8, 2023). "Ilveksen kokoonpanossa edelleen valtava aukko". is.fi (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ilveksen ensi kauden joukkueen runko rakentuu – seura julkisti kahdeksan jatkosopimusta". ilves.com (in Finnish). Tampereen Ilves. March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Malek Signs 2-Year, Entry-Level Deal | RELEASE | New Jersey Devils". nhl.com. May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Ilves announced the signing of seven new players". ilves.com. Tampereen Ilves. May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ Štohl, Radek (November 1, 2023). "Málek byl povolán do repre! Debut si odbude na Karlaja Cupu". valassky.denik.cz (in Czech). Valašský deník. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database