Ivan Ivan from Pixels to Pucks
Feb 7, 2024
By: Nicole Boldrin
From scoring virtual goals on his PlayStation 2 with his dad throughout his youth to gazing at Colorado wallpaper in his room, Ivan Ivan is turning his childhood dreams into reality. What began as little triumphs in the living room, eventually evolved into a pursuit of success on the professional hockey stage.
After 21 years of idolizing players like Milan Hejduk, Joe Sakic, and most recently, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, Ivan is now making a name for himself – quite literally. With a name that echoes twice, he’s not just a rookie; he’s a talented young player who brings double the skills to the ice.
First, for those wondering, his father, Marek Ivan has a little bit to do with the creation of Ivan’s uncommon name that sets him apart.
“My dad’s name is Marek, and his last name is Ivan,” he explained. "Since Marek and Ivan are both first names, people were always wondering whether his name was Marek or Ivan, so he made it easier for me. I like it and it’s special because there are not many people with my name.”
While Ivan’s name stands out for its uniqueness, his true goal is to further establish himself in the realm of hockey and ultimately compete at the NHL level. To reach that next level, Ivan has been focusing on honing his skating and stickhandling skills.
“I’m a really good skater and I like to hold onto pucks, score goals, and make plays for my teammates,” the 21-year-old said. “I like to pass more than scoring goals. I try to play a 200-foot game. Although I’m trying to be good overall everywhere, I’m special because of my skating and puck handling.”
At the NHL training camp in late September, Ivan got a taste of pro hockey practicing alongside some of his favorite current Avalanche players – a dream come true. Additionally, the 6-foot, 190-pound forward was the top scorer for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2023 Rookie Tournament in Vegas. He also had the opportunity to compete in a few preseason games in the spotlight of the Denver crowd at Ball Arena.
“My best memory (from camp) was when I was sitting next to Nathan MacKinnon in my first game,” Ivan said. “That was kind of cool and just being on the power play with some of those guys (Mikko Rantanen) who have played over 500 NHL games. When I got to play in the exhibition games with them, it was a dream come true.
“The coolest thing is that I always had Colorado on my wallpaper everywhere, so just wearing that jersey in Vegas with the rookies and then in front of the Denver crowd was enjoyable.”
Before inking an AHL contract for the 2023-24 season with the Colorado Eagles, Ivan spent the previous three seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League with the Cape Brenton Eagles, accumulating 75 goals and 102 assists in 191 total contests.
During the 2022-23 campaign, the captain tallied season-highs across the board with 33 goals, 57 assists, and 90 points in 64 games, ranking 10th in points and ninth among all QJMHL skaters.
Moving from Colorado and adjusting from juniors to the AHL hasn’t been easy both on and off the ice for the Ostrava, Czechia native. Since arriving in the United States, Ivan has been working on improving his game while also discovering a newfound hobby - not necessarily by choice.
“In juniors, I was one of the biggest, strongest, and fastest on the team…but since I got to the AHL I had to get stronger, be quicker with the puck, and make smarter decisions,” said Ivan. “Also, when I played juniors, I was taken care of all the time. Now I started to cook by myself and live by myself, so my new hobby is cooking. I’m trying to get better, so the apartment doesn’t burn down (laughs).”
Although rookie seasons often come with a steep learning curve, Ivan has received valuable advice from the coaching staff which has contributed to his successful development. With 39 games under his belt, Ivan leads Eagles rookies with his eight goals and 13 assists.
“A lot of the advice I get is to be yourself on the ice,” the Eagles forward said. “Hold onto pucks and don’t be scared to make plays. Your plays are what got you to the level you are, so you still have to be the same player. You have to be a little smarter, but just be yourself and try to be better every day.”
When bonding over virtual ice battles on the pixels of a screen with his dad, Ivan chooses Colorado backed by Hejduk and Sakic, forcing Marek to play for another team. These were the formative years that set the stage and translated Ivan’s journey from PlayStation 2 to the thrilling reality of professional hockey.
