St. Paul, MN — The Minnesota Wild family has grown by one — off the ice, that is.
Earlier this week, Wild’s standout forward, Alex Novak and his wife, Emilia, celebrated the arrival of their first child, a healthy baby girl. The joyful news was confirmed by the team in a warm press release, while Novak shared a heartfelt message and an adorable photo of the newborn on his social media accounts.
“Words can’t describe the happiness we feel,” Novak wrote. “Our little girl is finally here, and she’s perfect. We are so grateful.”
The 28-year-old winger, known for his dynamic playmaking and leadership on the ice, was excused from team practice to be present for the birth. Teammates and fans alike flooded social media with congratulatory messages, with many noting how Novak’s trademark intensity softens whenever he speaks of his growing family.
“Seeing a teammate become a parent is always special,” said Wild captain Jared Spence. “We’re beyond happy for Alex and Emilia. He’s a great player, but we all know he’ll be an even greater dad.”
Novak, who’s had a stellar season with 22 goals and 31 assists so far, is expected to rejoin the team later this week. In the meantime, his absence has been warmly embraced, with head coach Dean Morris joking, “We can live without him for a few days — fatherhood’s a big deal, and he deserves every minute of it.”
The Wild organization even celebrated the occasion in-house, presenting the proud new dad with a custom miniature jersey bearing his daughter’s name, Sofia Novak, and the number “1.”
As the team eyes a playoff push, Novak’s newest role as a father may just be the most rewarding shift he’s taken yet.