Name: Jaroslav Halak
Position: Goalie
Catches:
Left
Height: 5’11
Weight: 165
Birthdate:
5-13-85
Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia
Acquired: Acquired
2003 NHL Draft, 9th round (271st)
Strengths
Showed good skills at the recent U-18 World Junior tournament, where he was
named the top goalie, and helped his team to a silver medal.
Weaknesses
On the small side, may need to add some weight to help cover up high.
Stats
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA | Sv% |
| 2002-03 | Bratislava | Ex.jun. | 20 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2.02 | .932 |
| Slovakia | W-18 | 7 | 2.59 | 0.887 | |||||
| 2003-04 | Bratislava | Slovak | 12 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1.66 | 0.942 |
| 2004-05 | Lewiston | QMJHL | 47 | 24 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 2.78 | 0.913 |
| Playoffs | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA | Sv% |
| 2005 | Lewiston | QMJHL | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3.52 | 0.908 |
HW Updates, by Dan Linn
Canadiens Mid-season Top 20 – 14. Jaroslav Halak-
G. (19th) Halak moves up a few spots, as he is having a
breakout season playing in Slovakia, as he leads the junior league in goals
against and save percentage, while even being called up to the top mens league
in his country, and finding success in that league as well. In addition the
young 18 year old was named to be the starting goalie for Team Slovakia’s World
Junior Championship, where he played very well for the most part, on an
overmatched team.
2004 World Junior Championship at Helsinki – Taken in
the 2003 draft, 9th round, 271st overall, Halak made his
first appearance at the WJC’s, yet he was named the teams starter, as he helped
his team take home the silver at the last U-18 tournament, and was named the top
goalie of that tournament. Having a very impressive season this year so far,
Halak was able to get some experience playing in the top mens league in the
Slovak league, but he had his work cut out for him, as this years U-20 was
facing some very tough competition. Although he did give up a very costly goal
against the rival Czech team, as his team ended up sixth overall, he was still
one of the top goalies in the tournament, finishing fourth overall in save
percentage, something for him to build on in next years tournament.
February 2004 – Halak much like Linhart has spent time
playing in several different leagues this season. He started out playing in the
junior league, where he has put up some very impressive numbers. An injury got
him a call up to the mens league, where he spent time in the top two levels, and
put up solid numbers in each league. Halak was also named to be the starting
goalie for Team Slovakia’s U-20, after being the starter for last year’s U-18
team. Halak did well in the recent World Junior tournament, as he faced more
shots then any other goalie with only one goalie even close to him. All this has
to be a great learning experience for him, as the final pick of the Habs 2003
draft, Halak is showing an impressive ability of stopping pucks.
January 2004 – Halak is returning from the recent U-20
tournament, where he was named as the starting goalie for Team Slovakia, after
an impressive showing at the U-18 tournament last year. Before the tournament,
Halak had been leading the Slovak junior league in save percent, and goals
against, which got him called up to the Mens Div I league, the top league in his
country. He was returned to his junior team to prepare for the U-20’s, where he
had an impressive performance as he lead his team to sixth place.
October 2003 – Halak was acquired in the recent draft this
summer, taken in the 9th round, 271st overall, after being
named the top goalie in the U-18 world junior tournament, as he lead Team
Slovakia to the silver. Halak is playing in the Slovak junior league, but he is
playing very well, and is listed as the top goalie in that league.
October 2003 – Special Report – (‘03, 9th round
271st)G. A no show at the Habs rookie camp due to team obligations,
Halak has played very well in the Slovakia junior league. He’s 2nd in
the league in goals against, and has put up some very impressive numbers so far.
Hopefully his good play will get him some ice time in the mens league, and
perhaps a invitation to the U-20 National Junior team. His 94.53 save % is tops
in the junior league, and very impressive even though it’s against junior aged
players.
September 2003 – Is off to a good start for his team, where
he has won all five of his starts. So far he has an impressive 94.08 save
percentage, and a 2.23 goals against average, while getting one shutout and
facing 169 shots letting only 10 past him.