The road to the NHL wasn’t straightforward for Connor Hellebuyck. In fact, he didn’t even have a place to play hockey after high school—until an unexpected call from Texas, of all places, changed the course of his would-be remarkable career.
On February 22nd, Hellebuyck became an American icon. In the Olympic final, he made 41 saves against Canada and helped Team USA win its first men’s Olympic hockey gold in 46 years.
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Far from certain
But it was far from certain that Hellebuyck would ever reach the NHL. Growing up, he showed plenty of talent, yet he played only public high school hockey in Michigan. Most elite prospects advance through the National Team Development Program—but not Hellebuyck.
Connor Hellebuyck career move
After finishing high school, he didn’t have a clear plan. He had received no calls from NCAA programs, but one team in Texas reached out: the NAHL expansion club, the Odessa Jackalopes.
“My scout calls me and says he’s found me a goalie. So I say, ‘Who is it?’ and he says, ‘Connor Hellebuyck.’ So we go to the computer, type in his name—nothing. He’s not in the top 500. We don’t even have to draft this kid,” former Jackalopes owner Rick Gasser told Sportsnet in a 2019 TV feature.
Three-time Vezina winner
Hellebuyck remembers the uncertainty just as clearly.
“I didn’t know where to go, I didn’t know how to continue playing. I just knew I wanted to. Right after the draft they called me and said, ‘Hey, we want you to come out to camp,’ so that gave me a little hope. I told myself I’m going to make it no matter what it takes.”
In Texas, everything finally clicked. Hellebuyck played 53 games with a .930 save percentage, was voted Rookie of the Year, and the rest is, as we now know, history. This past week, he became the first hockey player ever to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump for his Olympic performance—a medal he adds to a trophy case that already includes three Vezina Trophy wins.
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