Jack Ivankovic is a projected front-runner for the Mike Richter Award as he gears up for his sophomore season at Michigan, but what makes him so elite?
Michigan’s Jack Ivankovic has been an elite goaltender for some time, and he’s proven so in the OHL, internationally for Canada, and now for the University of Michigan.
He was drafted 58th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2025 and shares a lot of qualities with their current starter, Juuse Saros, especially since they’re both sub-six-foot netminders. But what makes Ivankovic so elite?
He’s textbook. His mechanics are among the best I’ve ever seen from a non-professional goaltender. He’s extremely quick on his feet, and because of his size, he’s forced to play further out in his crease. He does so seamlessly. It gives him slightly less time to react, but his extremely quick hands and elite puck tracking allow him to compensate.
His tracking is a major part of what makes him so effective. He sees the puck exceptionally well, processes plays quickly, and that allows him to react before the play develops. For many smaller goaltenders, screens can be a challenge. While that isn’t necessarily the strongest part of his game, he is very active within his stance and constantly works to find small pockets through traffic where he can pick up the puck. Once he sees it, his ability to shut down the play is exceptional.
Positionally, he is very sound and extremely patient with shooters one-on-one. He doesn’t overreact or move unnecessarily, which prevents him from opening up the gap a shooter needs to exploit. That patience, combined with his positioning, allows him to stay square and force shooters to beat him rather than giving them opportunities through his own movement.
His athleticism ties everything together. He’s flexible, explosive, and extremely quick, but it’s his mechanics that allow those physical tools to translate into consistent performance. Every part of his game works together.
He’s also the type of goaltender who can steal games. When he gets into a rhythm, he has the ability to take over a game from the crease and give his team a chance to win even when the play isn’t going their way.
Overall, Michigan has an elite goalie, and in the big games, they can feel confident they have Jack Ivankovic between the pipes.
