Novak plays for the Czech club
Photo: Marissa Baecker
Czech striker Pavel Novak has found a place to play for the foreseeable future.
The Kelowna Rockets announced on Monday that they have loaned Novak to Motor Ceske Budejovice from the Czech Extraliga.
The move came after Novak scored a goal and two assists in five games at the recently concluded Junior Ice Hockey World Championships.
The native Cabor from Tabor was a selection of the fifth round of the Minnesota Wild in the 2020 NHL draft, but was not invited to the training camp.
It is unclear whether Novak would return to the missiles when the WHL gets the green light to begin operations. Presumably, he would have to be quarantined for two weeks if he could return.
The WHL said last week that it was fully committed to a 24-game regular season.
The league, along with all other junior leagues in the province, will remain closed due to the province’s latest health ordinance, which expires on February 5th. At that point the order could be lifted or extended.
Meanwhile, the Rockets announced on Monday that 20-year-old defender Devin Steffler has been placed on waivers.
In two seasons, the uncovered Blueliner scored one goal and 10 assists in 121 games.
