Sova Signs With NHL's New Jersey Devils

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Head Coach Dallas Ferguson announced that junior defenseman Joe Sova has signed a two-year entry-level contract to play professional hockey with the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils organization.

“This opportunity is something Joe has work hard for and we want to wish him all the best as he pursues his goal of playing in the National Hockey League," said Ferguson.

The details of Sova's contract were not disclosed, as per the parent club's policy, but he left Fairbanks Wednesday night to head to New Jersey, get acquainted with the organization and figure out where he will lace up his skates next. If not in the NHL, the other possibility is the New Jersey's American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany Devils, where former Nanook and All-American defenseman Tyler Eckford is a third-year veteran on the blueline.

“It's been a lifelong dream to play professional hockey,” said Sova. “It's exciting and Alaska has played a major role in my development. I've learned and experienced a lot and obviously I couldn't go where I'm going without having been here.”

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound rearguard was the Nanooks' top offensive defenseman this season and second on the team in scoring with four goals and 20 assists in 37 games. In his three seasons with the Blue and Gold, he amassed 13 goals and 45 assists good for 58 points in 115 career games.

“I owe a lot to guys I've played with like Vanny (Steve Vanoosten) and Aaron Gens for the past two years, as well as all the other guys around me and the coaching and support staff,” Sova said. “I owe a lot to them and I'm grateful to everyone, especially the guys. I've made some lifelong friends here in the past three years.”

An honorable mention to the CCHA All-Conference team, Sova had the second best point totals of all league defenseman and was 10^th overall in assists among all skaters. With 27 appearances in conference contests this season, he was fifth among his colleagues with 4-12—16 and sixth in power-play points with 3-7—10.

He is the 14^th player Ferguson has coached since 2004-05 has moved on to the professional hockey ranks, and most recent following 2009 CCHA Player of the Year and goalie Chad Johnson of the New York Rangers.

“Joe has improved and developed his game over the last three seasons and the Alaska Hockey program is extremely happy for Joe and his family,” Ferguson added.

Sova admitted benefiting from conversations with other Alaska alumni currently among the professional ranks like 2010 Stanley Cup Champion and defenseman Jordan Hendry and Johnson.

“They (Hendry and Johnson) said you've got to work hard and stick at what you want to do. If its hockey, you've got to give your best effort. If you're not going to give your best effort then you're selling yourself short. Not everything is going to be handed to you; you've got to work for it.

At the same time, it's not all about a hockey player; you've got to be a good all-around person. You've got to be doing the right things all the time and remember that there's a name on the back of your jersey that correlates to the name on the front and vice versa.”

New Jersey is 8-1-2 in their last 11 games with 12 left in the regular season. They are six points shy of an Eastern Conference playoff berth. Albany has 12 games remaining, but sits in sixth in the East Division and is unlikely to make the playoffs. Trenton is near the bottom of the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference standings.

“I'm going in there not expecting much (playing wise) but am just going to try to learn as much as I can and soak it up so I can take it into camp over the summer and then next year.”

A computer science major, Sova plans to return to Fairbanks at the end of the season and finish his classes.

“I look forward to getting the second part of my career going but know I'll be back and get a chance to close up this chapter of my life,” he said. “I look forward to starting the next one - hopefully there's a few more chapters to be written - but I'll take it day by day and learn as much as possible and see what happens."

Print Friendly Version

Sponsors