Jakub Málek (born 11 April 2002) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for Ilves of the Liiga as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Málek made his first professional start at 16 years old on 30 January 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 20 October 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 Liiga on 3 May 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 6 March 2024, Ilves exercised an option in Málek's contract to sign him to a one-year extension.[12] On 6 May 2024, Málek signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Devils.[13]
International play
Málek 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
Málek 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
| 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 | 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
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Chance liga | ||
| Best Junior | 2022 | [13] |
| Best Goaltender | 2022 | |
| All-Star Team | 2022 | |
References
- ^ Volter, Martin (1 February 2019). "16 + 19 na Lapači. Něco nepředstavitelného, rozplývá se Sachr". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Hegeďová, Helena (8 April 2021). "Zklamaný Málek: Nemělo to tak skončit, v sérii jsme byli lepším týmem". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Bagar, Adam (28 April 2021). "Talent Málek pokračuje. Vsetín už má jasno o brankářské trojici". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Lazar, David (24 July 2021). "Devils GM sticks with strategy of acquiring raw talent". nypost.com. New York Post. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ a b Zoubek, Ondřej (27 October 2021). "Tanec nikdo neviděl, ale jeho gól obletěl svět. Český brankář dál sní o NHL". aktualne.cz (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Hedbávny, Marek (1 June 2022). "Brankářem prvoligové sezony je vsetínský Jakub Málek". hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Seppä, Lassi (3 May 2022). "Ilves julkaisi liudan tärkeitä sopimuksia − muun muassa HPK-kolmikko ja Peetro Seppälä edustavat jatkossa tupsukorvia". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). Jatkoaika. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Prášek, Josef (6 June 2023). "Snad už to nikdy nezažiju... Málek o trablech, Finsku i Devils. Co rozhovory?". Hokej.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Tracy, James J. (28 February 2023). "New Jersey Devils European Prospect Update: Is it time to start talking about Jakub Malek?". allaboutthejersey.com. SBNation. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Flannery, Kristy (16 July 2023). "Devils' Fitzgerald May Have Found His 'Lottery Tickets' in Filmon, Vilen, Brown, and Malek". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Kuisma, Joonas (8 April 2023). "Ilveksen kokoonpanossa edelleen valtava aukko". is.fi (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Ilveksen ensi kauden joukkueen runko rakentuu – seura julkisti kahdeksan jatkosopimusta". ilves.com (in Finnish). Tampereen Ilves. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Malek Signs 2-Year, Entry-Level Deal | RELEASE | New Jersey Devils". nhl.com. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Ilves announced the signing of seven new players". ilves.com. Tampereen Ilves. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Štohl, Radek (1 November 2023). "Málek byl povolán do repre! Debut si odbude na Karlaja Cupu". valassky.denik.cz (in Czech). Valašský deník. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
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