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The Peterborough Petes have officially signed 2024 first-round CHL Import Draft selection Adam Novotný to an OHL Standard Player Agreement.
Petes General Manager and Vice President of Operations Michael Oke made the announcement Tuesday, highlighting the team’s confidence in the young Czech forward.
“We are very excited to announce that we have signed Adam Novotný to an SPA,” said Oke. “Since selecting him in last year’s import draft, we believed that the Petes would be an excellent place for him to continue his development. Paddy (O’Connor) has done a great job building a strong relationship with Adam over the past year which has been a huge part of making this signing possible. We’re very happy to be able to add Adam to our group and help him prepare for the 2026 NHL Draft and beyond.”
Novotný, a native of Kobylice, Czechia, was selected eighth overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. The 2007-born forward brings significant international and professional experience to the Petes lineup.
Last season, Novotný played 41 games for Mountfield HK in Czechia’s top professional league, registering one goal and two assists. He also appeared in 10 playoff games, scoring twice. At the junior level, he recorded 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points in 48 games with Mountfield HK U20.
He made history in 2023 by becoming the youngest player to score a goal in the Czech Extraliga at age 15, scoring in his debut.
“After I was drafted last season, I became more interested in the Peterborough organization,” said Novotný. “I immediately contacted Martin Matejicek, who had only positive things to say about the club.”
Petes Director of Player Personnel and Assistant Coach Patrick O’Connor, who has played a key role in building a connection with the young forward, called the signing a major step forward.
“We are really excited to welcome Adam Novotný to the Peterborough Petes,” said O’Connor. “His signature and commitment is a huge part of our plan moving forward. Adam is an elite young talent who is highly driven and focused on coming to play and compete in the OHL for the Petes. He will be showcasing his vast skill set ahead of the NHL draft in the summer of 2026.
“I’d like to acknowledge the Petes Board of Directors, Mike Oke, Rob Wilson, David Hamal, Petr Peleška and the Novotný family for all their support in making this signing happen. We are thrilled to have Adam on board as we continue to build our new look team for next season and beyond. The future is bright here in Peterborough.”
Novotný says the decision to join the Petes was strongly influenced by the support and communication from the organization.
“Although I didn’t play for the club last season, coaches Patrick O’Connor and Rob Wilson communicated with me frequently,” he said. “This helped convince me that it was the right choice for my development. They also visited me in the Czechia to meet my family, for which I was very grateful. Of course, I consulted my decision with my family, and I feel tremendous support from them.”
On the international stage, Novotný suited up for Czechia at both the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa and the U18 World Championship in Texas. He helped his team capture bronze at the World Juniors, scoring once in seven games, and tallied two goals and four assists in five games at the U18 tournament.
Looking ahead to his rookie OHL season, Novotný said he’s focused on contributing right away.
“As for my personal goals, I want to help the team as much as possible and be a valuable player both on and off the ice,” he said. “I realize that this season is important for me, so I want to do my best to help not only Peterborough but also the Czech U20 national team.”
