[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 2):

LCG Jack Ivankovic (6'0",179lbs)
Brampton (OHL): 43gp/ 25-12-5, 3.05 GAA, .903 SV%

Though he had an excellent rookie season in 2023-24 for the Mississauga (now Brampton) Steelheads, going 14-5-4, with a 2.72 GAA, and a .915 SV%, Jack Ivankovic (ranked # 4 NA Goalies, # 48 by McKenzie, # 23 by Button) started to make scouts take notice of him with his stellar performance in the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, winning Gold with Team Canada, while registering a 0.75 GAA, and a .967 SV% in 4 games. After that event, he continued to build his impressive resume' over the 2024-25 season, culminating with his excellent performance at the most recent U-18 Worlds, going undefeated in 6 games, with 1.05 GAA, and a .961 SV%, en route to another Gold Medal. Brampton finished 8th-out of 20 teams in the OHL this season, but were eliminated from the post-season by the Oshawa Generals in 6 games- with Ivankovic posting an ugly 4.87 GAA, and an .877 SV% in 5 games. Along the way, he was honored by being chosen to back-up Carter George at the World Junior Championship, and he got the start against Latvia (not exactly a powerhouse team), but lost 3-2 in a shootout, registering a 1.85 GAA, and a .903 SV% in his only game.

Ivankovic doesn't have the benefit of ideal size to fall back on, so he relies mostly on structure, technique, and superhuman reflexes- wielding a sharp glove, and a quick blocker. He maintains control of his movements to cut-down on over-committing, and eliminates the possibility of losing his net, by never straying beyond his posts. He employs an upright stance to appear larger, and to better take care of the top of the net, paying close attention to his angling. Active and athletic, he moves around his crease quickly, and can explode laterally by pushing off of his post. He's light on his feet, and can dart around in all directions, but also recovers extremely fast to a standing position after going down in the butterfly. Ivankovic tracks the play extremely well, keeping his eye on the puck to stay square to the shooter, and his high-end anticipation allows him to always be well-positioned; he outwaits shooters, and doesn't drop down prematurely. He's mentally tough and resilient, staying calm and composed in high-pressure situations, and resets admirably after letting in a goal- even if it's a softie. His mental fortitude and high compete level make him an excellent performer in big games, and pushes him to make key saves at important times.

Ivankovic swallows up rebounds extremely well, deflects pucks to the corner off of his blocker, and manages loose pucks in his crease; he battles hard in scrambles, and never gives up on a play. He can play the puck if needed, but must keep it safe and simple to be effective. Most of the criticisms of his game revolve around his size- he doesn't cover as much net as bigger goalies can, so he has to find ways to compensate, without the benefit of elite athleticism. There are times where he struggles to see the play through screens due to his size, and can lose sight of the puck in traffic. Ivankovic will have plenty of time to develop, as he will be attending the University of Michigan next season. Look for him in the 2nd-round.