Hard-luck player for the Irish who had a sophomore year that he would like to forget ... saw action in just six games after suffering two major injuries during the season ... suffered a broken left ankle on Oct. 16 at Miami and had surgery to repair the break ... missed 14 games, returning to the lineup on Jan. 2 versus Resselaer ... on Jan. 7 at Lake Superior State, suffered a broken right wrist when hit along the boards in the first period and missed the rest of the season ... worked hard in the off-season and returned to school in top-notch condition ... will again battle for a spot in the regular lineup after limited playing time a year ago ... will look to add to the Notre Dame offense in the goal-scoring department ... known throughout his junior career as a goal scorer ... strong skater with excellent hands and a nice scoring touch around the net ... strong in the corners and in front of the net ... eighth Notre Dame player from the province of Alberta ... one of two Albertans on 2005-06 team, joining sophomore defenseman Brock Sheahan (Lethbridge) ... member of eight-man recruiting class that was ranked second in the nation by Red Line Report ... joined Notre Dame in the late signing period (Apr. `03) along with forwards Michael Bartlett and T.J. Jindra ...one of six Canadians on the Irish roster, joining juniors David Brown (Stoney Creek, Ont.) and Wes O'Neill (Essex, Ont.), sophomores Victor Oreskovich (Oakville, Ont.) and Sheahan (Lethbridge) and freshman Jamie Silverson (Thunder Bay).

AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in just six games in 2004-05 due to two major injuries ... did not score a point ... recorded one penalty for two minutes and had four shots on goal ... opened the season in the starting lineup and played in first two series versus Minnesota-Duluth and Miami ... suffered a broken left ankle in second game of Miami series and had surgery on Oct. 18 ... missed 14 games over the next 10 weeks and returned to action on Jan. 2 versus Rensselaer ... in second game after return at Lake Superior State on Jan. 7, took hit along boards in the first period and broke his right wrist ... injury required surgery and effectively ended his season.

AS A FRESHMAN: Played in 28 games, collecting five assists ... was called for six minor penalties resulting in 12 minutes in the penalty box ... recorded 12 shots on goal and was -2 for the season ... had a four-game scoring streak in games versus Bowling Green ... had one helper in each of four games versus the Falcons ... fifth assist came on Feb. 14 versus Ferris State ... lone postseason appearance came in NCAA regional versus Minnesota.

PREP & PERSONAL: Graduated from Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, Alb. ... came up through the ranks of the Calgary Royals hockey organization ... played two seasons with the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), the same league that produced graduated forward Brad Wanchulak (Camrose) and sophomore defenseman Brock Sheahan (Crowsnest Pass) ... in 2002-03, helped Calgary post a fourth-place finish in the AJHL's South Division with a 36-25-3 record ... was second in scoring on the team with 34 goals and 30 assists for 64 points while leading the team in power-play goals and game-winning goals ... selected to play in the AJHL all-star game ... in his first season, 2001-02, recorded 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points in 55 games as Calgray went 32-29-3 on the year ... recipient of the "Friends of the AJHL" scholarship ... also received the "Dale Dupont" AAA Midget Royals scholarship ... as a midget in 2000-01, led team to city and provincial titles with seven goals and 21 assists ... added six goals and 10 assists during the playoffs ... helped team win silver medal in Air Canada Cup ... received Air Canada most valuable player scholarship in regional tournament ... played for bantam AAA team in `99-'00 ... finished second in league scoring with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 26 games ... was team MVP and selected to participate in the Team Pacific Under-17 camp ... full name is John Matthew Williams-Kovacs ... son of Susan Williams and John Kovacs ... has one brother ... born April 28, 1984, in Grande Prairie, Alb. ... Accountancy major in the Mendoza College of Business.

Williams-Kovacs' Career Statistics

Williams-Kovacs' Career Bests

1 Point
Five times

1 Assist
Five times

3 Shots on Goal
vs. Rensselaer (Jan. 2, 2005)

2-Game Point Streak
(0g-2a); Jan. 9-10, 2004
(vs. Bowling Green)
(0g-2a); Oct. 17-18, 2003
(vs. Bowling Green)