LOWELL, Mass. – Former UMass Lowell goalie
Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) turned in a sparkling performance on the world stage as the United States Men's National Team won the bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championships in the Czech Republic.
Hellebuyck, who rewrote the UMass Lowell goaltending record book, led all netminders at the World Championships with a 1.37 Goals Against Average and a .948 Save Percentage. His second shutout in the tournament, a 3-0 win against the Czech Republic, earned the U.S. team the bronze medal. Hellebuyck is the first alum in program history to receive at IIHF medal from top-level competition. He is the seventh alum to wear a Team USA sweater and second player to represent Team USA on multiple occasions (Ron Hainsey).
"Connor's our best player night in, night out," said teammate Trevor Lewis who scored one of the Americans goals in the Czech game. "He was there to stop pucks for us, and clear rebounds. We knew if we had a breakdown he was going to be there, he was a calming presence for us. I can't say enough about him."
The matchup with the Czech Republic also pitted two Winnipeg Jets' goaltenders against one another. The prospect Hellebuyck, a member of the Jets' American Hockey League affiliate St. John's Ice Caps, made 39 saves in outdueling Jets' starter Ondrej Pavelec who stopped 13 of 16 shots.
In all, Hellebuyck turned in a 7-1 record. The seven wins tied a U.S. record for most in a single tournament set in 1939. In addition to the bronze medal game shutout, Hellebuyck blanked Denmark, 1-0, earlier in the tournament.
The tournament performance is the final exclamation point on a terrific first season as a professional. The former River Hawk set Ice Caps team records for games (58), wins (28), shutouts (6) and save percentage (.921.) The 6-foot 4-inch netminder had a 2.58 goals against average and earned a spot on the AHL All-Star team.
Hellebuyck signed with the Winnipeg organization after his sophomore season at UMass Lowell. In two years with the River Hawks, Hellebuyck posted eye popping numbers with a 38-12-2 record in 52 career starts to go along with a 1.60 GAA, .946 save percentage and a school-record 12 shutouts. His save percentage currently ranks first all-time in the NCAA Div. I career record book, while his GAA is third best all-time.
During his final season in a River Hawk sweater Hellebuyck amassed a 18-9-2 record and a 1.79 GAA and .941 save percentage with six shutouts while starting in 29 of 40 games. His GAA and save percentage ranked first nationally among Division I goaltenders, while his shutout total ranks second in the nation. Hellebuyck was a First-Team All-American, a First-Team Hockey East All-Star, was the winner of the inaugural Mike Richter Award and was the Hockey East Tournament MVP for the second consecutive season.
