Quick Facts: Jake Kupsky

Quick Facts: Jake Kupsky

Jun 27, 2015

With the 193rd overall pick and their final pick of the 2015 draft, the Sharks selected goalie Jake Kupsky.

Players drafted in the 7th round are often seen as long-shots. And oftentimes they are, but for goalies, those shots are a little shorter. 

It might seem odd, but the 7th round of the draft might be one of the best for goaltenders. Henrik Lundqvist (2000/New York Rangers), Pekka Rinne (2004/Nashville), Jaroslav Halak (2003/Montreal), and Brian Elliott (2003/Ottawa) were all drafted in the 7th round. 

Jake Kupsky brings solid numbers and a large frame to table, hoping to join that list of successful 7th round goalies.

1. Kupsky is extremely large at 6’5” and 209lbs. His frame will be able to fill up the net, but he also has high athleticism. Kupsky is very much in the mold of the modern goaltender. 

2. In his one season with the Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL, Kupsky started 30 of their 60 games and posted solid numbers between the pipes. In the regular season, he had a 2.16 GAA and a .911 SV%. In the playoffs, he turned it up a notch: in nine games played, he had a 1.86 GAA and a .930 SV%. 

3. Kupsky is committed to play for Union College for the 2015-16 season. Sharks goalie Troy Grosenick – a fellow Wisconsin product – also attended Union College, recording 39 wins and a .925 SV%. 

4. A standout at Waukesha West High School, Jake Kupsky is the first 
player to earn a college scholarship to play hockey. In his senior season at Waukesha West, he posted a more-than-solid 1.60 GAA and .944 SV% in the regular season and 1.00 GAA and .962 SV% in the playoffs. This is a guy who steps it up in the postseason.

5. Kupsky says that he tries to style his game after Carey Price, another large goalie who had a lot of success in 2014-15. Though a more apt comparison might be Ben Bishop, the NHL’s tallest goalie who is only an inch taller than Kupsky, who also had much success in the NAHL.

Follow him on Twitter at @kubby10.