Jakub Málek (born April 11, 2002) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for

Tampereen Ilves Ilves (; Finnish for " Lynx") is a Finnish professional ice hockey team based in Tampere. They play in the Liiga at the Tampere Deck Arena. The colors of Ilves, green, yellow, and black, were taken from what was then the coat of arms of the cit ...

of the SM-liiga as a prospect to the

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional sports, professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...

of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Málek made his first professional start at 16 years old on January 30, 2019, for

VHK Vsetín Valašský hokejový klub Vsetín, also known as Hockey Club Vsetín, is an ice hockey team in the Czech 1. liga (second-level league). The team is the most successful team in Czech Republic ice hockey history, winning five straight Extraliga c ...

of the second-tier Czech Chance Liga against

HC Stadion Litoměřice HC Stadion Litoměřice is an ice hockey team from Litoměřice, Czech Republic. The team was founded in 2007, however, there was a different team in Litoměřice, operating from the 1970s up to the 1990s. They began in the Czech Second League. ...

, but was pulled midway through the match after conceding four goals. Returning to the Chance Liga more permanently in the 2020–21 season, Málek recorded 8 wins and a .912 save percentage in 14 games. In 7 playoff games, he recorded a .927 en route to a semifinal exit at the hands of HC Dukla Jihlava. In 21 total games at the Chance Liga level, he recorded two shutouts. Despite not being ranked at all by NHL Central Scouting, he would be selected 100th overall in the fourth round of the

2021 NHL entry draft The 2021 NHL Entry Draft was the 59th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on July 23–24, 2021, delayed by one month from its normally scheduled time of June due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the later-than-normal finish of the 2020–21 NHL se ...

by the

. On October 20, 2021, early in the 2021–22 season, Málek became the first goalie in Chance Liga history to score a goal by shooting the puck directly into the net (as opposed to being credited with a goal he didn't directly score) when he scored an empty-net goal late in a 4–1 victory over

AZ Havířov AZ Heimstaden Havířov is an ice hockey team in the Czech Second Hockey League (third-tier league) from Havířov. The city of Havířov was established in 1955. However the beginnings of ice hockey in surrounding villages date back to 1928, wh ...

. He would play 31 games that season and post 22 wins, two shutouts, and a .932 save percentage, earning the league award for best goaltender and making a run to the Chance Liga finals. Moving to Finland for the 2022–23 season, Málek signed a two-year contract with Ilves of the top-level SM-liiga on May 3, 2022. Early in the year, Málek was hospitalized for panic attacks caused by what he described as putting too much pressure on himself. After recovering, as well as some time playing in the second-tier Mestis, he returned to Ilves and finished the season with a .903 save percentage in 22 total games. In the playoffs, starting goaltender

Marek Langhamer Marek Langhamer (born 22 July 1994) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Ilves in the Finnish Liiga. Playing career After a few seasons playing as a youth within the HC Pardubice organization, Langhamer was sele ...

was unable to play midway through the semifinal series against the Lahti Pelicans, thrusting Málek into the starting role. On March 6, 2024, Ilves exercised an option in Málek's contract to sign him to a one-year extension. On May 6, 2024, Málek signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Devils.

International play

Málek was set to represent Czechia at the 2022 World Junior Championship, playing in one game before the tournament's cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Málek made his senior international debut representing Czechia in the 2023

Karjala Tournament The Karjala Tournament ( fi, Karjala-turnaus), also known as Karjala Cup, is an annual ice hockey event held in Finland. The name comes from the sponsoring beer brand Karjala. History The tournament started in 1992 as the Sauna Cup. In 1995, t ...

, part of the 2023–24 Euro Hockey Tour.

Personal life

Málek is a supporter of the Forest Green Rovers football club. He initially discovered the team while playing EA Sports FIFA and is a fan of their environmentally conscious operations.

Career statistics

Awards and honors

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Málek, Jakub 2002 births Living people Czech ice hockey goaltenders New Jersey Devils draft picks Ilves players KOOVEE players People from Kroměříž VHK Vsetín players