Jack Ivankovic and what we learned from Day 9 of the U18 Worlds

Jack Ivankovic played it cool on the ice. 

Off it, too.

Ivankovic, no. 47 in FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft, recorded consecutive shutouts for Canada en route to helping Canada earn back-to-back golds at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship for the first time.

“If I’m going to be honest, not a lot,” Ivankovic said when asked what was going through his head after winning gold. “Just super excited and happy.” 

This, after stopping 28 shots in what evolved into a lopsided 7-0 win for Canada.

This, after winning the award for best goaltender at the U18 Worlds.

“It’s pretty cool, but I mean for me goalie is a whole group [effort].” Ivankovic said. “I think they did an unbelievable job, blocking shots, playing the right way in front of me. I give credit to all of them.” 

Perhaps it comes as no surprise given Ivankovic’s history.

He was also a part of Canada’s golden entry at the U18 Worlds in 2024

He has had experience from this in the past, having now won his fourth gold medal and second at the U18’s. This time, however, he wasn’t watching from the bench. He was the starter after spending last year being Ryerson Leenders and Carter George.

“Definitely helped a good amount,” said Ivankvoic, who also backstopped Canada to gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. “I’m pretty familiar with both of them, playing with them. Just talking to them but also being my own goalie and doing what I do best.”

The gold sets up Ivankvoic going into the offseason.

The success will fuel comparisons for Ivankovic, who stands in at 6-foot, heading into the 2025 draft.

As a stopper not blessed with elite size, the 18-year-old certainly knows the parallels drawn between himself and the NHL’s best short stoppers in Dustin Wolf and Juuse Saros.

“I watch [Wolf]. I watch Saros,” Ivankvoic said. “Those guys are two of the best in the league. I think the height stuff; I can’t care less about what people say. I’m just going to stop the puck.”

Those two goalies aren’t the only ones he looks up to, however.

Fittingly, with the U18 Worlds held in Texas, Ivankovic taps a bit of a local goalie at times, too.

“Jake Oettinger is a big one for me,” Ivankovic said. “Just how calm he is and how level-headed he stays throughout the whole year.” 

Top Performances

Ben Kevan played a strong game for Team USA in a 4-3 overtime win against Slovakia to earn the bronze medal. He positively impacted the transitional game consistently, using his strong skating ability to cause issues for the Slovak defenders. Kevan also played the hero with the overtime winner to secure a medal. 

Cole McKinney also had a very strong game for the Americans, leading the way offensively. He plays a heavy-hitting style, which wore down the Slovaks as the game went on. He led the way offensively for Team USA, while also scoring what was the go-ahead goal with 7:26 remaining in regulation. 

Ivankovic made the saves he needed to, and then tacked on some excellent ones. He deserves a lot of credit for handling every surge Sweden did have. Xavier Villeneuve, Cole Reschny, and Jackson Smith also made some very nice plays, and Brady Martin was a thorn in Sweden’s side, throwing his weight around and adding a highlight reel goal. 

Quotables

“It’s huge. He’s a brick wall back there. He’s key to our defense, he’s our best penalty killer all the time. Best defensive guy all the time. He’s a brick wall, so having that guy to rely on, you’re never worried if the puck is going to go in the net. Or if he lets in a weak one, you’re never worried about that. It’s great, he’s a leader on our team.” — Reschny on Ivankovic

Scouting report

“Ben Kindel is a playmaking winger with above-average puck skills across the board. He’s at his best setting up teammates in the offensive zone. Even as a forward, he played up top on the power play, where it ran through him and his passing ability. He’s deceptive with his passing, disguising his release point and target until the last second. He is dangerous with time and space because he can quickly process what’s in front of him. He is on the smaller side, but he has a sturdy build and is able to play through contact effectively. He’s a fluid skater with smooth edgework, but he lacks the elite separating top speed to truly complement his playmaking skills. He works hard defensively, filling lanes well, especially on the backcheck, where he disrupted several odd-man rushes. While most of his skills grade out as above average, they don’t quite reach the elite tier. I see him as a player who should go in the back half of the first round of the 2025 draft.” — FCHockey scout Jacob Roth

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