Kelowna Rocket’s Pavel Novak heading to NHL

Kelowna Rockets forward Pavel Novak will soon be playing in the NHL.

The 20-year-old will start the next hockey season playing for the Minnesota Wild.

According to a Kelowna Rockets media release, Novak has just signed a three-year entry-level contract starting with the 2022-23 season.

Novak posted 72 points, a plus 26 rating and 14 penalty minutes over 62 games with the Rockets this season.

He ranked T-1st on the team in goals, second in scoring, assists and plus/minus rating, and third in power-play goals, in which he scored eight.

He also recorded 208 shots on goal and recorded 20 multi-point games.

Novak, who is originally from the Czech Republic, was selected 13th overall by the Rockets in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.

Novak was named to the WHL B.C. Division Second All-Star Team and recorded two hat tricks this season.

The Wild selected Novak in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

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