Noah Pak of the Collingwood Blues has been voted the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Goaltender, the CJHL announced today.
Pak picked up the honour over fellow Top Goaltender finalists Ben Charette, Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL); Harmon Laser-Hume, Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL); Tomas Anderson, OCN Blizzard (MJHL) and Nicholas Sheehan, Edmundston Blizzard (MHL), following a voting process completed by the CJHL’s nine-member leagues, for their respective efforts during the course of the regular season.
The OJHL is 4-for-4 as far this year’s CJHL awards are concerned. Last week, David Green of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Buzzers (Top Defenceman), Matthew Manza of the Toronto Patriots (Rookie of the Year) and Trevor Hoskin of the Cobourg Cougars (Top Forward) were honoured.
Pak was voted the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Year and named Top Goaltender for the 2023-24 season. That Top Goaltender award is given to the goaltender with the lowest goals-against average across the 24-team league during the regular season.
Pak posted a 1.30 GAA – almost one goal a game better than the runner-up.
Pak also led the league in save percentage (.945) and shutouts (12).
His regular-season record was 37-5-0-0.
Park helped Collingwood go 49-6-0-1 and win the Brant Snow Memorial Trophy as regular season champions of the OJHL.
Pak and the Blues are 3-0 at the 2024 Centennial Cup being played in his home town of Oakville this week. Pak shut out the champs from Quebec 8-0 yesterday. The Blues are guaranteed a berth in the playoff round of the 10-team tournament for the second straight year.
Pak signed in Collingwood ahead of the COVID-cancelled 2021-22 OJHL season, meaning he’s played three seasons with the Blues.
He has an NCAA Division I commitment to Yale University for this fall.
Pak wears No. 31 in honour of his childhood netminding idol, Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
“But in terms of modeling my game now, I’d say Juuse Saros (of the Nashville Predators) because he’s a bit smaller is really good on his feet and has really good edges,” Pak told the OJHL. “Watching him is great, but in general all the goalies in the NHL are fun to watch.”
At 6-foot, Pak is bucking the trend of taller goalies dominating at all levels.
“Size is always a big component for goalies,” the affable Pak said. “But you don’t get to pick how tall you are, so just work with what you’ve got.”
Pak first played goal as a 5-year-old in the Timbits house league program back in Oakville.
“No one wanted to play goalie in the first game of the year, so my dad volunteered me to do it,” Pak told Hockey Canada during the 2023 Centennial Cup. “I was upset about it, crying as I put on the pads, but I finished the game. I really enjoyed it and I was really glad my dad put me in there.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am without my parents (Dennis and Nancy),” Pak said. “They’ve put in countless hours driving and preparing me for games, the amount of money they’ve put into my gear and training, so whenever I kind of look back at my achievements, I’m always grateful.”
Pak is appreciated in Collingwood.
“Noah is an exceptional goaltender and has been our backbone year after year,” Collingwood Head Coach Andrew Campoli told the OJHL. “He’s a fierce competitor and has always battled for and supported his teammates. He provides a sense of calmness as well as acts as a sixth player on the ice in his ability to play the puck. We are very excited to follow Noah’s next chapter at Yale and we know he will put his stamp on that program no differently than he’s done for the Collingwood Blues.”
Photo credit: Tim Bates of OJHL Images
