John Prokop Explained

John Prokop
Birth Date:13 May 2001
Birth Place:Wausau, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:190
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
League:NCAA

John Prokop (born May 13, 2001) is a college ice hockey defenseman for Union College of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Playing career

Junior

Prokop began his junior career with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2018–19 season, where he recorded four assists in 25 games. During the 2019–20 season, he started the season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks where he recorded one goal and one assist in 11 games. On November 14, 2019, he was traded to the Green Bay Gamblers in exchange for Dylan Wendt.[1] He recorded one goal and six assists in 30 games for the Gamblers.[2] He was named to the 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[3] He then played two seasons for the Des Moines Buccaneers. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded one goal and 11 assists in 46 games. During the 2021–22 season, he recorded one goal and 14 assists in 58 games.[4]

College

Josh Hauge was an assistant at Clarkson when he began recruiting Prokop. When Hauge was named the head coach at Union prior to the 2022–23 season, Prokop committed to play college ice hockey at Union.[5] During the 2022–23 season, in his freshman year, he was one of six skaters to appear in all 35 games. He recorded a team-high 23 points on four goals and 19 assists. He became the first rookie defenseman in Union's NCAA Division I history to lead the team in points.[4] Following the season he was named to the All-ECAC Rookie Team.[6]

During the 2023–24 season, in his sophomore year, he led the team in scoring with eight goals and 27 assists in 36 games.[7] He recorded one goal and nine assists in six games to lead Union in scoring during November. He recorded three multi-point games and had at least one point in every game in the month. He was subsequently named the ECAC Hockey Defender of the Month for the month of November 2023.[8] During conference play her led the team with six goals and 18 assists for 24 points, and was named a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year.[9] Following the season he was named a unanimous All-ECAC First Team honoree and an AHCA East Second Team All-American.[10] [11]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2018–19Omaha LancersUSHL250442
2018–19Janesville JetsNAHL20077630002
2019–20Muskegon LumberjacksUSHL111128
2019–20Green Bay GamblersUSHL3016710
2020–21Des Moines BuccaneersUSHL461111222
2021–22Des Moines BuccaneersUSHL581141528
2022–23Union CollegeECAC354192320
2023–24Union CollegeECAC368273543
NCAA totals7112465863

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-ECAC Rookie Team2023[12]
All-ECAC First Team2024[13]
AHCA East Second Team All-American2024[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gamblers Acquire Wausau Native John Prokop . gamblershockey.com . November 14, 2019 . April 19, 2024.
  2. Web site: Muskegon Lumberjacks captain, WMU commit enjoying homecoming in hockey journey . . Scott . DeCamp . December 23, 2020 . April 19, 2024.
  3. Web site: USHL Names Prospects Rosters . collegehockeyinc.com . December 6, 2018 . April 19, 2024.
  4. Web site: John Prokop . unionathletics.com . April 19, 2024.
  5. Web site: Prokop performing well for Union hockey . . Sean . Martin . January 18, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  6. Web site: Opening Faceoff: Union’s Prokop, RPI’s Muzzatti named to ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team . . Ken . Schott . March 16, 2023 . April 19, 2024.
  7. Web site: John Prokop Named CCM/AHCA All-American . unionathletics.com . April 12, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  8. Web site: John Prokop Named ECAC Hockey Defender of the Month . unionathletics.com . December 6, 2023 . April 19, 2024.
  9. Web site: Union men's hockey: Prokop a finalist for ECAC Hockey Player of the Year . . Ken . Schott . March 20, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  10. Web site: Union men's hockey: Garnet Chargers defenseman Prokop is unanimous selection to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team . . Ken . Schott . March 14, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  11. Web site: Union men's hockey: Defenseman Prokop named All-American . . Ken . Schott . April 12, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  12. Web site: ECAC Hockey Announces 2022–23 Men’s All-League Teams . ecachockey.com . March 16, 2023 . April 19, 2024.
  13. Web site: 2023–24 First Team All-ECAC Honorees Announced . ecachockey.com . March 14, 2024 . April 19, 2024.
  14. Web site: Top 25 men’s college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023-24 season . USCHO.com . April 12, 2024 . April 19, 2024.