Jimi Jaks - Junior Review

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The Player

 

 

Name: Jimi Jaks

Position: Center

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 190 lbs

Place of Birth: Grand Falls, Arizona

Favorite Player: Scotty Campbell

Preferred Number: 11

 

The History

As a kid growing up in Grand Falls, Arizona, no one expected Jimi Jaks to have such a passion for professional hockey. His mother and father both co-owned a bar, with no former ties to hockey or sports in general. It all started at that bar, where Jimi would hang around on Sundays before the VLTs open and catch some of matinee VHL hockey. The violence, speed, and momentum of the game motivated him to get started with the local minor hockey association. From there, he took off – and now, Jimi is living his dream as a high-end prospect destined for the VHL.

 

The Junior Year

Jimi has spent the last couple seasons with the United States National Developmental team in exhibition and in the USHL. Jaks was most recently the top center on the team, and heavily relied on in close situations. In the exhibition series, Jaks finished 4^th overall in points amongst the two rosters. At the start of the season, Jaks requested a more defensive role to help his 200 FT game, which saw his zone start percentage heavily favor towards his own. This transitioned well into the USHL, where he exploded for 42 pts in 27 games, in the top junior league in the USA.

 

S84/85: US. National Junior Team (Exhibition)

GP: 33 G: 12 A: 30 Pts: 42 PIM: 36 +/-: 20

 

S84/85: US. National Junior Team (USHL)

GP: 27 G: 15 A: 27 Pts: 42 PIM: 24 +/-: 12

 

The VHLM Stint

Once the USHL season was finished and Jaks officially graduated from the developmental program, he accepted a part time contract with the Saskatoon Wild, joining them for the end of the season and their playoff run. Being a young player new to the team, Jaks expectedly didn’t get a lot of ice time and was mostly used in sheltered minutes. His underlying numbers didn’t pan out so great, finishing in the lower half of shot attempts against in all but two games. He referred to his time with the Wild as a learning experience, learning form some of the veterans on the team. The playoffs were quite the same, where Saskatoon got swept, with Jaks being on for four goals against and none for. Obviously, more was expected out of himself, but he will have the whole offseason to train and reset as he preps for the draft.

 

S85: Saskatoon Wild (VHLM Season)

GP: 10 G: 1 A: 1 Pts: 2 PIM: 2 +/-: -9

 

S85: Saskatoon Wild (VHL Playoffs)

GP: 4 G: 0 A: 0 Pts: 4 PIM: 2 +/-: -4

 

457 words

 

Edited November 2, 2022 by kelvi