2018-19 Merrimack College Men's Ice Hockey Roster

Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz
Jim Stankiewicz

8 Johnathan Kovacevic

  • Class Junior
  • Position Defenseman
  • Height 6-4
  • Weight 215
  • Shoots/Catches R
  • Hometown Grimsby, Ontario
  • Last Team Hawkesbury (CCHL)
  • Major Civil Engineering

Biography

Career

  • Enjoyed an extremely impactful three years as a member of the program before signing a professional contact with the Winnipeg Jets after the 2018-19 season
  • One-time assistant captain who was one of the team's most impactful defensemen in his three years
  • Appeared in 101 games and finished with 54 points on nine goals and 45 assists
  • Also contributed 166 shots and five power play goals
  • Was a model student-athlete, earning back-to-back Hockey East All-Academic Team honors and Top Scholar-Athlete awards for finishing with a 4.0 GPA 
  • Earned CoSIDA Academic All-District distinction at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign
  • Was drafted in the third round, 74th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2017 NHL Draft, becoming the program's second-highest-drafted player ever

2018-19

  • CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree
  • Served as assistant captain
  • Saw action in 31 games as the team's top defensemen and arguably its most valuable player while logging more minutes than any player on the team on a given night
  • Led the team with 14 assists as part of an 18-point campaign that also featured four goals, a new career-high 
  • Set a new single-season high water mark with three power play goals
  • Finished with 67 shots on target
  • Tied his single-game scoring mark with a three-point/three-assist game against Lake Superior (10/6)

2017-18

  • Dominant in the classroom for a second straight season, earning Hockey East All-Academic Team honors and a second straight Top Scholar-Athlete award for finishing with a 4.0 GPA
  • Enjoyed a second straight productive season as one of Merrimack's top defensemen, appearing in 34 games
  • Nearly matched his rookie year scoring output with 17 points, scoring twice while dishing 15 assists
  • Set a single-game high with three assists in a win over Bentley (11/10)
  • Totaled a career-high 50 shots on goal while blocking 20 shots

Summer 2017

  • Drafted in third round, 74th overall, by Winnipeg Jets in 2017 NHL Draft

2016-17

  • Hockey East All-Academic Team selection and Top Scholar-Athlete
  • Appeared in 36 games as a freshman
  • Burst onto the scene with a 19-point rookie campaign, ranking fourth on the team in overall scoring while leading all rookies and all defensemen from an offensive standpont
  • Finished with three goals and 16 assists, as well as a +7 rating that was the second-best on the team (best among defensemen)
  • Also ranked second on the team in total assists
  • Ranked 12th nationally among all rookie defensemen in scoring average and also had the third-best scoring average compared to his Hockey East defensive peers 
  • Had three multi-point games over the course of the season

Before Merrimack

  • Spent final season in juniors with Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL)
  • Appeared in 30 games with the Hawks in 2015-16, recording 26 points (6g, 20) with 21 penalty minutes
  • Also logged 10 appearances for the Hawks in the postseason, recording seven assists
  • Spent half of 2015-16 and all of 2014-15 with the Ottawa Junior Senators (CCHL)
  • Earned CCHL All-Rookie Team honors in 2014-15 with Ottawa and all-league third team recognition in 2015-16 with Hawkesbury
  • Named team's Defensive Player of the Year for the Hawks (2015-16)

Personal

  • Born July 12, 1997
  • Son of Novica and Angie
  • Brother to Ryan and Daniela
  • Civil Engineering major

CAREER HIGHS

Points: 3, Bentley, Nov 10, 2017 ; Lake Superior, Oct 06, 2018 
Goals: 1, 9 times
Assists: 3 [t-6th], Bentley, Nov 10, 2017 ; Lake Superior, Oct 06, 2018 
Shots: 6, UMass Lowell, 12/10/16 ; Boston University, Oct 20, 2018 
Power-play goals: 1, 5 times
Penalties: 3, at Clarkson, 10/14/16 
Penalty minutes: 6, at Clarkson, 10/14/16 
Plus/minus: 3, Maine, Feb 15, 2019 ; Connecticut, Jan 12, 2019

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 8

    2016-17Freshman

    D
    6'4" 215 lbs
    8
  • 8

    2017-18Sophomore

    D
    6'4" 215 lbs
    8
  • 8

    2018-19Junior

    Defenseman
    6'4" 215 lbs
    8