NAHL alum Hellebuyck named to Hockey East All-Rookie Team
March 21, 2013
Less than a year ago, Connor Hellebuyck was playing for the Odessa Jackalopes, and now he is a member of the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell freshman goalie and NAHL alum Connor Hellebuyck, (Commerce, Mich.), was named the Hockey East Stop It Goaltending Champion and to the 2013 Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team, Hockey East announced this week.
Hellebuyck was one of three unanimous selections to the All-Rookie Team, joining goalie Jon Gillies of Providence and Michael Matheson of Boston College. Also named to the team was Matt Grzelcyk and Danny O'Regan of Boston University; and Kevin Roy of Northeastern.
Hellebuyck played last season in the NAHL for the Odessa Jackalopes as was named as the NAHL's Co-Goaltender and Rookie of the Year during the 2011-12 season.
Hellebuyck, who has been cited with Hockey East weekly and monthly awards 11 times this season, has maintained a 1.49 goals against average and a .944 save percentage en route to a 16-2 record, both tops in Hockey East. Since suffering a 5-1 loss at Denver in his first action this season, he is 16-1-0 with a 1.27 goals against average and a .952 save rate (432 saves on 454 shots).
Hellebuyck received the Stop It Goaltending Champion award for maintaining the lowest goals against average and highest save rate in conference play this season. The 6-foot-4 freshman posted an 11-1-0 record against Hockey East foes while nursing a 1.38 GAA and a .948 save percentage.
A fifth-round draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets (130th overall), Hellebuyck is majoring in marketing.
