Who is John Chakya?

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A local Niagara kid is now at the helm of the Arizona Coyotes. At just 26-year-old John Chayka was named the team’s general manager. He becomes the youngest person to hold that position in the NHL’s history. So who exactly is John Chakya?

Chakya may not be a household name but the Jordan Station native has been carving a name for himself for almost a decade. Known primarily as a analytics guru, he served as an assistant general manger for the Coyotes last season. His promotion to general manger was considered by some critics as bold.

“I am not even sure it has hit home yet. We all knew John was headed for greatness from a little kid.” Terry Chayka, John’s father.

Before joining the NHL, Chakya co-founded a hockey analytics firm known as Stathletes and he is also no stranger to the ice. He played junior hockey before suffering a career ending injury. At 26 Chakya is younger than 13 players on the Coyotes’ active roster. Chayka’s promotion came in the midst of a front-office shuffle after the Coyotes finished the season with only 35 wins.