Senators pick local talent Novak
Former Windsor major midget star selected by Senators in this year’s draft
Windsor’s Jakov Novak never let the disappointments get him down.
He was twice passed over in the Ontario Hockey League Draft. A year ago, when players his age were being selected for the National Hockey League Draft, there was no mention of his name.
On Saturday, to the surprise of many, the Ottawa Senators selected the 19-year-old Novak in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft.
“Not the most straightforward path,” admits Novak, who can play centre or wing. “That’s what makes me unique. Everyone has a different route.”
He played on the Windsor Junior Spitfires minor midget team in 2013-14 with Anthony Salinitri.
Salinitri went on to be a firstround pick in the OHL and was taken by the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers two years later.
By contrast, Novak wasn’t even rated for the OHL Draft in 2014. “My draft year, I was fivefoot-eight and 155 pounds,” said Novak, who had two goals and 11 points in 32 games that season. “A year later, I was six-foot-two and 185 pounds.”
Not that his jump in size and 25 goals and 46 points in 34 games for Windsor major midget team got him any more attention. “I never talked to anyone (from the OHL),” Novak said. “I talked to Halifax in the Q (MJHL), but I always wanted to go the college route.”
The United States Hockey League’s Muskego Lumberjacks took him in the 19th round, 301st overall, in its draft, but he instead opted to attend New Hampton prep school in New Hampshire where he put up 37 goals in 40 games.
“I knew I’d keep developing,” Novak said.
A year later, Novak was ready to make a move and headed to Wisconsin after the Janesville Jets took him eighth overall in the first round of the North American Hockey League Draft.
“I’ve always loved the game of hockey,” Novak said. “That’s something that kept me going through my journey.”
He capped two seasons with the Jets this season by scoring 32 goals, which tied for the league lead, and posting a league-leading 73 points in 56 games along with 131 penalty minutes. That earned him a first-team all-star selection and league MVP honours.
On top of that, he secured his coveted NCAA scholarship offer and is headed to Bentley University, in Massachusetts this fall. “Every year, I kept giving it my all,” Novak said. “Every guy has their time where they develop. In my case, I feel I was a late bloomer.”
NHL Central Scouting didn’t rate him in its midterm rankings, but after piling up points and awards he was rated No. 214 on the final list of North American skaters. That doesn’t include European skaters or goalies and is certainly no guarantee of being taken in a draft where only 217 players are selected.
“I had a couple of interviews with a couple of teams,” Novak said. “Ottawa (officials) drove down two weeks ago.”
Two picks into the seventh round, the Senators made their move on the now six-foot-three, 201-pound Novak and grabbed him with the 188th pick overall. “He can shoot the puck, he scores and he’s got to get a little bit quicker,” Senators scout Bob Janecyk told Postmedia. “We’ve always really liked him. He’s been around a few years. He’s developed and he’s getting stronger. He’s got great speed, quickness and agility.” Plans have not changed for Novak. He will still attend Bentley University and that allows the Senators up to four years to assess his development without having to sign him.
“I’ve got four years in college and they can see me develop or pull me out if they see what they like,” Novak said.
Getting to this point has been no easy journey for Novak and knowing that, he’s not about to change the way he approaches the game.
“At the end of the day, I know a lot of guys enter the NHL who are not drafted,” Novak said. “Even if I hadn’t got drafted, I know it doesn’t define me.”
Windsor Spitfires centre Curtis Douglas isn’t even sure if he actually heard his name Saturday at the NHL draft in Dallas.
All the six-foot-eight, 248-pound Douglas remembers hearing were the words “Windsor Spitfires.” “It was pretty crazy,” the 18-yearold Douglas said. “I mean, a lot of emotions going through my mind as I’m sitting there waiting to hear my name.
“As I heard ‘the Windsor Spitfires’ said on the loudspeaker, I kind of blacked out and it is hard to remember the rest. I was so excited.” The Stars took Douglas in the fourth round with the 106th pick overall. In the next round, Spitfires defenceman Connor Corcoran had much the same experience when the Vegas Golden Knights selected him with the 154th pick overall. “They had called Curtis before, so when they called Windsor again, I knew it was me or (Mathew) MacDougall,” the 17-year-old Corcoran said. “I got down (to the arena floor), but I don’t remember much. It’s just an unreal experience.” Both players headed to Dallas for the draft, but knew full well the event can often be a disappointing and heartbreaking ordeal with only 217 players selected. “There’s always a chance you don’t get picked,” the six-foot-two, 185-pound Corcoran said. “I was definitely really nervous. As it got to the later rounds, I wondered what was going to happen.” While it only takes one team to like you, that match doesn’t always play out in a seven-round draft. “I mean, it’s always a toss up where you go, as no one knows the picks other than the guys sitting at the tables,” said Douglas, who was part of the return Windsor received from Barrie in the Aaron Luchuk trade.
“I had a pretty good gut feeling. Dallas was definitely in my top three teams that I thought I might go to. The interview at the (NHL) Combine with them went really well.”
Corcoran only switched to defence on a full-time basis in the season leading up to his selection by the Spitfires in the second round. He saw limited time at the position as a rookie during Windsor’s run to the Memorial Cup in 2017 and only took a full-time role at the position last season, when he posted three goals and 24 points in 63 games.
“It means the world to me,” Corcoran said. “Growing up, I didn’t think I’d get drafted to the OHL and never understood what could happen.
“Now, with the NHL draft, it’s unbelievable and it’ll motivate you more. I’m going to work hard.” In Texas, where they profess that everything big is good, Douglas is a perfect fit and scouts are anxious to see what he can be when his skill level catches up to his growth rate. “Dallas is an amazing organization in an amazing city, so I’m excited to begin this journey,” said Douglas, who had 22 goals and 46 points in 66 games.
“I’m just happy to get picked and have the opportunity to beat out some of the other guys drafted in front of me and use that as a source of motivation in Windsor and over the summer.”
While MacDougall was not selected in the draft, the 18-year-old forward did get a free-agent invite from the Tampa Bay Lightning to attend the team’s development camp, which begins Tuesday.