Connor Hellebuyck

Amateur

After completing his high school career at Walled Lake Northern High School in Commerce Township, Michigan, Hellebuyck played one year of junior hockey as a member of the Odessa Jackalopes, a franchise that had been a minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders but had recently moved to junior hockey as part of the North American Hockey League. Hellebuyck went from being virtually unknown to a top prospect while playing in Odessa, and was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets following his season in Odessa.

Hellebuyck earned a scholarship to play for the UMass Lowell River Hawks in the NCAA Men's Division I Hockey East Conference, where in two seasons he played 54 games and compiled a 38–12–2 record with a .946 save percentage, 1.60 goals against average, and 12 shutouts. He won the Hockey East Championship and made a Frozen Four appearance in his freshman year. Lowell would repeat as Hockey East Champions the following year and Hellebuyck became the only player in Hockey East history to be named tournament MVP twice. Following his second year, Hellebuyck's outstanding play was rewarded with a selection to the 2013–14 Hockey East First Team.

For the 2013–14 season, Hellebuyck was awarded the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in college hockey. Hellebuyck departed UMass Lowell as the school's shutout leader with 12 shutouts in 54 games, surpassing current Nashville Predators and former UMass Lowell goaltender Carter Hutton. He also owns single-season records for best save percentage (.952) and GAA (1.37), both in 2012–13.

Professional

Hellebuyck chose to forgo his final two years of college eligibility when he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) on April 5, 2014. In the 2014–15 season, he played his first full professional season with the Jets' American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps and was selected to the 2015 AHL All-Star Game serving as the Eastern Conference starter. Hellebuyck was called up by the Jets late in the regular season to dress as the back-up goalie for one game. On November 22, 2015 the Jets called up Hellebuyck, after Ondrej Pavelec was injured during a game against the Arizona Coyotes. On November 27, 2015 Hellebuyck won his first NHL game, against the Minnesota Wild, then on December 27, Hellebuyck recorded his first NHL shutout in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Hellebuyck made the 2016–17 Jets ahead of Ondrej Pavelec. During his first season as a starter, Hellebuyck posted a (26-19-4) record in 56 games. On July 24, 2017, the Jets re-signed Hellebuyck to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million.

International play

Hellebuyck was chosen by the United States to play at the 2015 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Hellebuyck would backstop Team USA to a Bronze Medal in the tourney. Hellebuyck posted a record of 7–1–0 with a pair of shutouts during his eight tournament games. He would also finish with a 1.37 goals-against average and a .948 saving percentage. His seven wins tied a U.S. record for most in a single tournament set in 1939. Hellebuyck has been named to the initial roster of Team North America for the upcoming 2016 World Cup of Hockey.