Emerging prospect Hellebuyck drawing all kinds of attention at Jets camp

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/07/2015 (3209 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Of course Connor Hellebuyck wants to play in the NHL.

He shares that goal with 39 other players on the ice this week at the Winnipeg Jets annual development camp.

The 22-year-old goalie from Commerce, Mich., is one hot commodity in the eyes of many in Jets Nation after his fine rookie pro season in the AHL and a successful body of work at the world championship in the Czech Republic in the spring.

Many see Hellebuyck’s 28-22-5 record, a 2.58 goals against average and a .921 save percentage on a non-playoff team, plus his bronze medal, a 1.39 GAA and .948 save percentage at the worlds as a ticket straight to the Jets’ net.

Here’s how Hellebuyck sees it, admitting Saturday he’s completely aware he’s attracting attention.

“I just go about my business,” he said. “I keep working hard. I’m just starting to get at it again, so I’m building it up. I think this week every day will get better and I’m kind of pushing towards the final goal, the goal of trying to make the Jets at training camp.

“But it’s a process. I’m not trying to jump any guns.”

His 2014-15 ended on a high note, for certain.

“We had a good team, a lot of young guys who are trying to make a name for themselves and then a lot of veterans who played a really solid role and a lot of minutes,” he said about Team USA. “The biggest thing was that we came together really fast. We all got along great and we just kind of clicked.”

Hellebuyck did get to experience the buzz around Winnipeg in the final days of clinching a playoff spot in April and found the tournament atmosphere in Czech Republic as enthusiastic.

“I always love those different crowds,” he said. “They had their own chants, in their own language, but it’s kind of cool how they go about it. It does get crazy, because I think they just love making noise and jumping around. They have their own music and you just have to love that whole atmosphere.”

Hellebuyck’s AHL beginnings didn’t yield any hints all of that encouraging news was forthcoming so soon.

He was no more or less typical as a pro rookie, struggling to find a consistency, allowing soft goals on a semi-regular basis

But the progress was easy to spot, and the IceCaps started trusting him, to the point where he was the team’s everyday, every-circumstance goalie by the end of the season.

“A huge thing to add to his resume,” said his coach, Keith McCambridge. “For taking baby steps, which you expect out of a first-year goaltender, he’s made some really large strides. An exciting young goaltender.”

Hellebuyck said there were important discoveries during his first pro year.

“I had to learn a lot in the A,” he said. “College was really fun and it was about building up your body. When I got to professional, I realized I had the strength and my body was where I liked it and where I wanted it, so I had to maintain that and get a full season of endurance.

“Nothing can prepare you for that.”

He jumped from 29 games in his second college year to 58 for the IceCaps and eight for Team USA.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Business Weekly

Monday mornings

The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week.

Sign up for Business Weekly

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“I played a long season and it really took a toll on me,” Hellebuyck said. “I really learned points about how to take care of my body. I think I really learned it the most at the World Championships where I finally took a morning skate off and I felt great the night of the game.

“I think I took some big strides there, learning what feeling great is. I’d feel good during the year because I’d do what I liked to do, but then kind of discovered what I needed to do.”

Since he was last at the MTS Iceplex for a development camp, Hellebuyck said there is not one thing that is most improved or that keyed his progress.

“I’ve got to say I like my game as a whole,” he said. “It’s improved as a whole, completely. So I think the best thing I’ve done is become a more well-rounded goaltender, I guess.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca