Jack Ivankovic (G, L, 5’11”, 178, Brampton Steelheads, 05/22/2007)
Jack Ivankovic is a technically sound, athletic, and poised goaltender who has handled a significant workload in the OHL this season with Brampton. He is intelligent in the crease, shows excellent positioning and rebound control, and gives his team a consistent chance to win. However, his sub-NHL-average frame, questions around long-term durability, and streaky confidence cast doubt on whether his style will scale at the pro level without focused development. While he is a clear goaltending prospect, we are cautious about projecting NHL starter upside and instead see him as a potential organizational depth goaltender or tandem backup with the right development.
Why Ivankovic Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Technical Foundation and Poise
Ivankovic’s structure is among the most polished in his peer group. He stays square to shooters, tracks well through traffic, and plays within his posts. He rarely over-commits, rarely loses his net, and typically stays upright through lateral movement — a major strength. His positioning is elite for a goalie his age and allows him to make clean stops when he sees the puck. His 3.1 expected goals saves/game and 85% success rate on Grade A chances are upper-tier indicators of his situational awareness and control under pressure.
2) High-End Rebound Management and Puck Tracking
His rebound control has significantly improved over the course of the year, and he’s shown the ability to deaden or steer difficult shots into non-dangerous areas. When he’s locked in, pucks stick to him. He controls his body angles well, and his glove is particularly sharp on the mid-glove side. His save selection is mature, allowing defenders to reset without scrambles.
3) Mental Toughness and Composure
Multiple Neutral Zone reports note Ivankovic’s calm demeanor under pressure. Even when he gives up early goals, he doesn’t spiral. His ability to “reset” mentally between shifts and recover from poor starts or goals against makes him a valuable long-view prospect.
4) Performance in Big Moments
Jack’s track record in tight games and elimination scenarios has been solid. Despite some inconsistency, he’s made big saves in key moments — including breakaway stops (71% save rate) and clutch penalty kill situations. He’s not a goalie who crumbles in the third period; rather, his workload and body of work this season (25-12-5 record) show resilience.
Why Ivankovic Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Below NHL Average Size
At 5’11”, 178 lbs, Ivankovic does not meet the current NHL trendline for goaltenders. The average height of NHL goaltenders is now 6’3″, and fewer undersized goalies are sticking long-term. While he’s smart and structured, shooters at the next level will target high shots off of royal road passes or extended lateral movement and Jack’s size may cap his ceiling.
2) Inconsistent Execution and Confidence
While he plays with composure, Ivankovic’s confidence can fluctuate game to game. Our evaluations consistently note that he can look elite when seeing the puck clearly and shaky when traffic builds. He occasionally gives up soft rebounds or goals after his team loses structure, and while he generally recovers, the inconsistency in rhythm is something to monitor.
3) Struggles with Screens and Lateral Movement Under Pressure
Due to his size, Ivankovic can struggle to see through screens, and while he reads plays well, his post-to-post explosiveness is only average. He has a tendency to drop early into the butterfly, which can expose upper-net targets. In high-pace games — particularly against teams with strong interior puck movement — he can appear lost in the lateral movement.
4) Limited Pro Upside Without Physical Growth or Elite Quickness
His game is technically clean, but without a larger frame or elite athleticism, his margin for error is small. As he transitions to higher levels of competition, he will need to further refine his puck tracking to compensate for size disadvantages. Without that growth, he projects more as a long-term No. 3 or AHL starter than an NHL regular.
Projection and NHL Outlook
Projection: 1B upside if tracking, confidence, and explosiveness improve; AHL starter/organizational backup
Developmental Focus:
Continue to build lower-body explosiveness and lateral control
Improve ability to stay on feet longer and hold visual lanes through traffic
Mental preparation focus: reset quickly after goals, stay consistent throughout games
Add functional strength and conditioning to handle 50+ games
Draft Grade: 4th–6th Round
Verdict:
Ivankovic has the technical skill, experience, and mental maturity of a legitimate pro goaltending prospect. He’s held his own in a starting OHL role and shown poise in key moments. However, his sub-6’ frame and reliance on structure over athleticism make him a difficult projection as an NHL starter. If selected, he’ll require a long development runway and an ideal defensive environment to elevate his ceiling. We feel Ivankovic is a smart mid-round target with No. 3 upside and potential spot-start NHL utility.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images