Peterborough, playing against Jágr, and darts: Adam Novotný's hockey journey
BUFFALO, NY – Adam Novotný will always remember his first practice with the Peterborough Petes.
The Czech winger shot a puck into the offensive zone toward the corner, and instead of the puck rimming around, as it would in most rinks, it caromed back into the slot.
It was a quick introduction to one of the quirks that defines the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The nearly 90-degree corners are infamous for causing wacky bounces, to a level that the Petes have used familiarity with those bounces as a form of home-ice advantage at times.
“You come over to learn North American hockey. It’s different from Europe, and then you also learn there is Peterborough hockey,” Novotný said. “We should call that type of game its own style, maybe.”
This season was a statement for Novotný, who led the Petes with 65 points in just 58 games after playing professionally in Czechia the past two seasons. He also helped Czechia to a silver medal at the World Junior Championships and heads to the 2026 NHL Draft as the 14th-ranked player by Elite Prospects.
“I think there’s something to me showing people here [in North America] my game on a regular basis,” Novotný said. “Something more to how I can impact the game, [that I] can play with the speed of North American hockey. It was something I kind of learned I was ready for.”
For those back in Czechia, it’s not too much of a surprise.
Novotný made his pro debut in the Extraliga in 2023 as a 15-year-old, scoring a goal in that game for Mountfield to become the youngest scorer in league history. Over the next two seasons, he split his time between Under-20 and professional competition, really making a statement, in his mind, during the 2025 Extraliga playoffs, where he scored twice.
“When I made my pro debut, that was really the first time I kind of realized I could kind of take this to North America and maybe the NHL,” Novotný said. “Then you kind of grow more comfortable. You get used to playing against older players, [and] you find your spot.”
Amongst those older players, Novotný also played a handful of games against then-53-year-old Jaromír Jágr.
“Right before the first game I played [against] him, you stop, and kind of think, ‘How is this real? I’m about to get to play with Jágr?’” Novotný said. “And then during the game, it kind of becomes normal, and then you shake hands after the game, and you remember like he’s old enough to be your grandfather."
Novotný didn’t play against any grandfathers in the OHL this season, where he was the sixth-highest draft-eligible player in points per game with 1.12.
It’s kind of fitting for a player who, when he’s away from the rink, spends a ton of time playing darts.
“I’m from a small town back home, and darts is kind of the thing. There’s a league and everything that I did there,” Novotný said. “It’s one of those things that I kind of do to relax at my billet house. It was one of the first things I bought [after moving to Peterborough].”
And it’s something that Novotný says he’ll probably do a bit closer to draft day to help relax while waiting for his name to be called in the first round.
