Tommy Novak (born April 28, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted with the 85th overall pick by the Predators in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Tommy Novak
Born (1997-04-28) April 28, 1997 (age 27)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Nashville Predators
NHL draft 85th overall, 2015
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2019–present

Early life

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Novak was born on April 28, 1997, in Saint Paul, Minnesota,[1] to John and Pat Novak.[2] Although he was born in Minnesota, Novak was raised in River Falls, Wisconsin.[3]

Playing career

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Novak (left) battling for the puck against Ryker Evans of the Seattle Kraken in 2024.

After three years of high school hockey at Saint Thomas Academy, Novak joined the Waterloo Black Hawks for the 2014–15 USHL season.[4] Novak's outstanding play with the Black Hawks was rewarded when he was invited to skate in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.[5]

Novak played the 2015–16 season with the University of Minnesota.[6] After his college career, he signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2019. He signed an entry-level contract with Nashville on March 25, 2020,[7] and played in his first NHL game on October 19, 2021.[8][9]

On March 4, 2024, the Predators re-signed Novak to a three-year, $10.5 million contract.[10]

International play

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Novak helped lead the United States national under-18 team to a bronze medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament,[11] and he recorded seven points in four games as a member of the United States national junior team at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge.[12]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 St. Thomas Academy USHS 25 14 20 34 0 6 4 5 9 2
2012–13 St. Thomas Academy USHS 25 25 22 47 6 6 3 7 10 0
2013–14 St. Thomas Academy USHS 25 26 44 70 8 3 4 4 8 2
2013–14 U.S. National Development Team USHL 2 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 46 14 34 48 12
2015–16 U. of Minnesota B1G 37 6 21 27 4
2016–17 U. of Minnesota B1G 20 5 9 14 10
2017–18 U. of Minnesota B1G 34 3 23 26 8
2018–19 U. of Minnesota B1G 38 4 17 21 4
2018–19 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 60 11 31 42 18
2020–21 Florida Everblades ECHL 3 1 2 3 0
2020–21 Chicago Wolves AHL 27 8 24 32 4
2021–22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 42 7 27 34 16 6 1 5 6 2
2021–22 Nashville Predators NHL 27 1 6 7 2
2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 25 11 15 26 2
2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 51 17 26 43 8
2023–24 Nashville Predators NHL 71 18 27 45 8 6 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 149 36 59 95 18 6 0 0 0 0

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 United States IH18   5 5 6 11 2
Junior totals 5 5 6 11 2

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
USHL
CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game 2014 [13]
All-Rookie Second Team 2015
International
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament bronze medal 2014 [14]

References

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  1. ^ "Tommy Novak". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Tom Novak". Team USA Hockey. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Skrbina, Paul (November 14, 2023). "The improbable, unnoticed rise of Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "High school hockey: Tommy Novak leaving STA to play in USHL". August 14, 2014.
  5. ^ "Novak lurking on edge of center pool in 2015 Draft". NHL.com.
  6. ^ Wells, Nathan (December 3, 2014). "Minnesota signs 6 during early signing period". SB Nation College Hockey.
  7. ^ "Predators Sign Tommy Novak to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Predators goalie Connor Ingram makes NHL debut after personal struggles". The Tennessean.
  9. ^ "Game Day: Rangers vs. Preds Preview". NHL.com.
  10. ^ "Predators Sign Tommy Novak to Three-Year, $10.5 Million Contract". NHL.com. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "Teammates On Same Track To The Top | USA Hockey Magazine". www.usahockeymagazine.com.
  12. ^ Kerr, Ben (May 5, 2015). "2015 NHL Draft Profile #35: Thomas Novak".
  13. ^ Kennedy, Ryan. "The All-American Prospects Game will be loaded this year". The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated.
  14. ^ s.r.o, eSports cz. "Hlinka Gretzky Cup »". Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup official website.
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