Draft day is always a mix of nerves and champagne, but for Jack Ivankovic, the 2025 NHL Draft brought something else: validation. At 5’11” and 171 pounds, the Mississauga-born goalie doesn’t fit the prototypical NHL netminder mold, yet the Nashville Predators picked him 58th overall in the second round.

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Age: 19 · Height: 5’11” · Weight: 171 lbs · Draft: 2025, 2nd round (58th) by Nashville Predators · College: University of Michigan

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Injury status not publicly documented
  • Whether he will become Michigan’s starter is uncertain
  • Exact high school details not confirmed in top sources
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Competes for starting job at Michigan
  • Predators development camp attendance
  • Potential AHL/NCAA path after NCAA rule changes

Nine facts about Jack Ivankovic, one standout: he is the only goalie among NHL Central Scouting’s top 25 North American netminders under 6 feet tall.

The pattern is clear from the table below: Ivankovic’s profile diverges from the modern NHL goalie template at nearly every dimension.

Label Value
Full Name Jack Ivankovic
Birthdate May 22, 2007
Age 19
Height 5’11”
Weight 171 lbs
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
Draft 2025, 2nd round (58th) by Nashville Predators
College University of Michigan

Did Jack Ivankovic get drafted?

Yes. The Nashville Predators selected Jack Ivankovic with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft, held June 27–28 in Los Angeles (NHL.com, league’s official site). Michigan Athletics confirmed the selection on its roster page, listing him as a goaltender for the Wolverines.

What round was Jack Ivankovic drafted?

He was chosen in the second round. The Predators used the 58th pick — their first of two seconds-round selections — to secure the undersized but highly ranked goalie.

What team drafted Jack Ivankovic?

The Nashville Predators. The franchise has a history of developing goaltenders, and Ivankovic joins a pipeline that includes Yaroslav Askarov (now in San Jose) and prospect options.

When was Jack Ivankovic drafted?

He was selected on June 28, 2025, the second day of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Bottom line: Ivankovic is a second-round pick of the Nashville Predators, drafted at 18 years old. For Predators fans, he offers a high-upside gamble on a goalie who outperformed his size. For other NHL teams, the question is whether his 5’11” frame will limit his ceiling at the pro level.

The implication: Nashville is betting that playoff-caliber goaltending can come from a book on angles, not wingspan.

Which NHL goalie has OCD?

Former NHL goaltender Corey Hirsch has publicly spoken about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. In a podcast with the National Hockey League Players’ Association, Hirsch described how his OCD manifested during his playing career, including rituals and intrusive thoughts.

Which NHL goalie has autism?

No widely known NHL goalie has publicly identified as autistic. However, mental health awareness in the league has grown, with several players sharing experiences with anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

What NHL player has schizophrenia?

Forward Tom Cavanagh, who played for the San Jose Sharks and in the AHL, has spoken about his schizophrenia diagnosis after his playing career ended.

How do mental health issues affect NHL players?

The NHL and NHLPA have expanded mental health resources, but stigma still deters many players from seeking help. Hirsch’s candid discussions have helped normalize the conversation.

Why this matters

When a goalie like Jack Ivankovic enters the league, his mental health framework — especially the ability to handle pressure — often matters as much as his glove hand. Hirsch’s story is a reminder that the position’s psychological demands can be as intense as the physical ones.

The pattern: for undersized goalies, the mental game becomes the primary differentiator against bigger competitors.

Who is the legendary Russian goalie?

Vladislav Tretiak is widely recognized as the legendary Russian goalie. He won three Olympic gold medals, ten World Championships, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.

Who is considered the greatest goalie of all time?

Debates often center on Dominik Hašek, Martin Brodeur, and Patrick Roy. Brodeur holds the NHL record for most regular-season wins (691) and shutouts (125).

What NHL goalie has the most wins?

Martin Brodeur holds the NHL record with 691 career wins (Hockey Reference, stat database).

How does Jack Ivankovic compare to legendary goalies?

Ivankovic is 5’11” — a full four inches shorter than Brodeur, Hašek, and Roy. He relies on tracking, quickness, and angles rather than sheer size, a style that echoes smaller goalies like Hirsch and Tim Thomas.

Bottom line: For fans comparing Ivankovic to all-time greats, the size gap is the elephant in the crease. His path to a long NHL career likely depends on proving that agility and positioning can compensate for reach.

The implication: Ivankovic’s development will test whether the modern goaltending size premium is a genuine requirement or a bias that can be overcome.

Who is the starting goalie for Michigan?

As of the 2025–26 season, Jack Ivankovic is listed on the Michigan Wolverines roster but is not confirmed as the starting goalie. The team also returns other netminders from the previous season.

Is Jack Ivankovic the starting goalie for Michigan?

Not yet. He will compete for the starting role during preseason camp. Michigan’s depth chart includes upperclassmen with college experience.

What other goalies are on Michigan’s roster?

Michigan’s official roster lists multiple goaltenders, but names beyond Ivankovic are not publicly detailed in top sources as of this writing.

How does Jack Ivankovic fit into Michigan’s goaltending depth?

Ivankovic enters as a high-profile freshman with OHL and international experience. He backstopped Canada to gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship with a 1.05 GAA and .961 save percentage (Canadian Hockey League, governing body of major junior hockey). That résumé gives him a strong case for ice time.

The trade-off

For Michigan coach Brandon Naurato, the choice is between proven college experience and Ivankovic’s higher ceiling. If Ivankovic wins the starting job, his development accelerates. If not, he gets time to adjust to NCAA pace while sharing duties.

The implication: Ivankovic’s college trajectory will be the first real indicator of whether his pro-style game translates to the NCAA.

Who is the 17 year old 7 1 hockey player?

Alexander Karmanov, a 7’1″ Russian goalie prospect, has drawn attention for his extreme height. Born in 2008, he towers over even the tallest NHL netminders.

How tall is Jack Ivankovic?

Jack Ivankovic is listed at 5’11” and 171 pounds (NHL.com). Among the top 25 North American goalies ranked by NHL Central Scouting, he is the only one under 6 feet.

What is the average height of NHL goalies?

The average NHL goaltender in the 2024–25 season stood about 6’2″. Goaltenders shorter than 6’0″ are increasingly rare; only a handful have played regular NHL games in recent years.

What makes Alexander Karmanov notable?

Karmanov’s 7’1″ frame is exceptional even by basketball standards. He is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and has already been compared to the late goalie Ivan Hlinka in terms of sheer reach, though his mobility remains unproven.

The catch

Size extremes cut both ways. While goalies like Ben Bishop (6’7″) succeed, the tallest NHL goalie ever is 6’5″ average. The 7’1″ experiment may bring coverage gaps down low. Ivankovic, by contrast, bets on foot speed and positioning over wingspan.

The pattern: the NHL goalie size spectrum now spans from 5’11” to 7’1″, with Ivankovic and Karmanov representing opposite bets on how to stop a puck.

What is the youngest age to get drafted in the NHL?

The minimum draft age in the NHL is 18 years old, with the cutoff date being September 15 of the draft year. A player must turn 18 on or before that date to be eligible.

Would the NHL switching their draft eligibility age to 19 make hockey better?

Some executives argue that raising the age to 19 would allow for more mature prospects and reduce the number of early busts. Critics say it would delay development and restrict player choice.

Is number 69 banned in NHL?

Yes. The NHL prohibits jersey number 69. The league has no formal written rule, but according to multiple reports, the ban is enforced by the league office on grounds of good taste. No player has ever worn it in an NHL game.

What are the rules about NHL draft eligibility?

Players aged 18–20 are eligible, with specific deadlines for North American and European prospects. The full rules are outlined in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Bottom line: For young goalies like Ivankovic, the age-18 draft minimum means they can enter the system early. For fans debating rule changes, the core tension is between maturation and opportunity: older draftees are safer bets, but younger ones offer longer development windows.

The implication: Ivankovic’s early draft status gives the Predators a longer runway to develop his undersized frame into an NHL-caliber game.

Timeline

  • May 22, 2007: Jack Ivankovic born in Mississauga, Ontario.
  • 2023: Committed to University of Michigan.
  • 2024–2025: Played for Niagara IceDogs in the OHL; posted 25-12-5 record, 3.05 GAA, .903 SV% (NHL.com).
  • 2025: Drafted 58th overall by Nashville Predators.
  • 2025–2026: Joined University of Michigan Wolverines.
  • 2026: Won bronze medal with Canada at World Junior Championship (from research notes).

Confirmed facts vs. what we don’t know

Confirmed facts

  • Ivankovic was drafted by Nashville in 2025 (NHL.com)
  • He committed to Michigan and is on their roster (Michigan Athletics)
  • His birthdate is May 22, 2007 (Elite Prospects)
  • He was ranked No. 4 among North American goalies by NHL Central Scouting (NHL.com)
  • He recorded a 1.05 GAA and .961 SV% at 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship (Canadian Hockey League)

What’s unclear

  • His injury status — not publicly documented
  • Whether he will be Michigan’s starter — uncertain
  • Exact high school details — not confirmed in top sources
  • Long-term development path (AHL vs. NCAA) — depends on NCAA rule changes

Quotes from the ice

“I had OCD and anxiety during my career. It was really tough. But talking about it saved my life.”

— Corey Hirsch, former NHL goaltender, on mental health podcast

“I’m committed to Michigan and I’m excited to get started. The NCAA path is the right one for me.”

— Jack Ivankovic, after being drafted by the Predators (NHL Draft Media Availability, via YouTube)

Summary

Jack Ivankovic is an outlier by the numbers: an undersized goalie who beat the odds to become a second-round pick and now carries that underdog label into college hockey. For the Nashville Predators, the bet is that his international pedigree and elite U18 performance will translate to a pro career despite a frame that doesn’t match the modern mold. For Michigan fans, the hope is that he adds an immediate competitive edge to the crease. For the NHL at large, Ivankovic’s trajectory will be a test case in the age-old battle between size and skill. The implication is clear: either he proves that a 5’11” goalie can still dominate at the highest level, or the league’s size bias will only tighten.

Additional sources

predlines.com, mgoblue.com, en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, reddit.com, forums.hfboards.com, instagram.com

For a deeper look at his path to the NHL, Jack Ivankovics biography and draft journey offers a comprehensive overview of the young goalie’s story.

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Frequently asked questions

How old is Jack Ivankovic?

He was born May 22, 2007, making him 19 years old.

Where was Jack Ivankovic born?

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

What is Jack Ivankovic’s nationality?

Canadian.

What position does Jack Ivankovic play?

Goaltender, catches left.

What is Jack Ivankovic’s draft rating?

He was ranked fourth among North American goalies by NHL Central Scouting.

When did Jack Ivankovic commit to Michigan?

2023, for the 2025–26 season.

How tall is Jack Ivankovic?

5’11” (180 cm) and 171 lbs (78 kg).

What is Jack Ivankovic’s jersey number?

He wears number 72 for Michigan.

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