On Thursday September 24th, the South Carolina Stingrays announced the re-signing of American right-winger Max Novak. The two sides agreed to terms on a standard player contract for the upcoming season. Novak returns for his sixth pro season and his second with the team in the Low country. He completed 2019-20 with 51 points which tied him for team lead in scoring. Novak recorded 15 goals along with 36 assists in 59 games.
For Novak, it will be his fifth season of pro hockey in North America. Novak re-signs with the Stingrays following a 2018-19 season spent overseas. He would play that year with Tingsryds AIF where he scored 10 goals along with 12 assists. He did so in 52 games while amassing a total of 22 points.
When asked about his reason to stay put, the forward said of both the city and the hockey club, “The decision to come back was pretty easy because I love the area. The team was great last year, and we have a good group of guys returning, so I think we’ll have another good product on the ice. It was a tight-knit group so hopefully that carries over into next season.”
Overall, the winger’s career includes 11 games in the American Hockey League. During the time he saw there, Novak played with the Toronto Marlies and Albany Devils. Combined between the two, Novak recorded 10 goals along with 19 assists for 29 points.
As for his ECHL service, Novak has played 125 games which he’s split between Orlando and South Carolina. During his one season with the Solar Bears, Novak recorded 21 goals along with 36 assists for 57 points.
Prior to making the jump pro, Novak played collegiate hockey, having spanned four years with the Union College Dutchmen. During his tenure at college, Novak, as well as the Dutchmen, captured their first-ever NCAA National Championship. That wasn’t all, adding back-to-back titles in the ECAC. Overall, Novak recorded 43 goals along with 53 assists for 96 points. He amassed these totals through 141 contests.