New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has recalled defenseman Libor Hajek from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Hajek, 21 (turned 21 years old on Feb. 4), has skated in all of the Wolf Pack's 58 games this season, registering five assists and 36 penalty minutes. He leads AHL defensemen who are in their U21 season or younger in games played this season, and he also leads all AHL rookie defensemen (regardless of age) in games played in 2018-19. In addition, he is one of only 21 AHL defensemen who, in their U21 season or younger, have skated in at least 25 games this season.
Prior to beginning his professional career, the 6-2, 204-pounder played three seasons of junior hockey (2015-16 - 2017-18) in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats, registering 19 goals and 72 assists for 91 points, along with 187 penalty minutes. Hajek, who participated in the CHL Top Prospects Game during the 2015-16 season, established WHL career-highs in goals (12), assists (27), and points (39) during his final season of junior hockey in 2017-18. In addition, Hajek recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in five games during the 2018 Memorial Cup, as he helped Regina advance to the Memorial Cup Final.