DU Recruit Makes The Hockey News "Hot List"

(above) Stepan Novotny plays for the Indiana Ice in the USHL

From: The Hockey News
by Ryan Kennedy

Every Tuesday The Hockey News publishes "The Hot List," a weekly roundup of players they can’t wait to see in an NHL uniform. This week they ran a list of players that they've featured in the past who will be playing in the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. Current DU players Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ryegsegger will play for Team USA and 2008 incoming recruit Stephan Novotny will play for the host country Czech Republic.

Stepan Novotny came in at the #5 postion of the "Hot List."

Stepan Novotny, LW – Indiana Ice (USHL): Five years ago, Stepan Novotny knew where he wanted to be. The young Czech began to make a serious run at learning English, even hiring a private tutor, knowing that when he was old enough, he wanted to come to North America.

“I wanted to play college,” said Novotny, who has committed to the University of Denver. “Back home, it’s hard to play hockey and get an education.”

And much like his English, Novotny’s hockey skills are quite advanced. He started the season off at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school, but transferred over to the USHL recently.

“I felt the best way to get prepared for college was to play a little junior first,” he said. “Guys (in the USHL) are bigger, faster, stronger with the puck…you need to do everything faster.”

Novotny is 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, but those who have seen him say he plays much bigger.

“I try to use my speed a lot,” he said. “I can work in the corners, I try to make good plays with the puck…my game is all about skating and hard work.”

And with Denver seemingly always reloading instead of rebuilding, Novotny is happy to bring that work ethic to what he considers the top staff in college hockey.

In the meantime, he can learn another English phrase: Blue-chipper.

Draft eligible in 2009.