MILAN – Connor Hellebuyck recalls being a high school goaltender watching Ryan Miller excel during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Hellebuyck was motivated to one day don the red, white, and blue for Team USA, but a year later, that ambition felt more like a distant dream. The Commerce, Mich., goalie went undrafted in the 2011 USHL and NAHL drafts and was not regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the United States.
He was simply an ordinary kid playing goalie at Walled Lake Northern High School, located 45 minutes north of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Fast forward sixteen years, and Hellebuyck was in a pristine white Nike No. 37 jersey at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Thursday night, making 17 saves and aiding the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in their 5-1 victory over Latvia in the team’s first preliminary match of the 2026 Olympics.
“I thought everyone was paying the price, everyone was battling hard and letting me see pucks,” Hellebuyck stated. “I just felt we controlled the play out there. It was fantastic. I'm going to enjoy the rest of the night and really process everything that just occurred today. But I look forward to tomorrow and the days ahead.”
Hellebuyck’s dedication to self-improvement is something all young players, particularly goalies, should aspire to. Player development is rarely a straightforward journey.
Rather than lamenting his undrafted status, Hellebuyck took action. He ultimately secured a tryout with the Odessa Jackalopes in 2011 and transformed that opportunity into a standout season with Odessa, leading the NAHL in appearances (53), minutes (3,085), and total saves (1,695). He was subsequently chosen by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft.
“It was a crucial moment in my hockey career,” Hellebuyck reflected during the U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp in August. “I was undrafted, which felt like a significant setback. Instead of allowing that to defeat me, I stepped up and said, ‘Okay. I’m going to seize whatever opportunity I get and make it work. I got invited to a camp, and that was my chance.”
Since then, Hellebuyck has been on a remarkable trajectory, becoming one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL after two seasons at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Last season, Hellebuyck became the fifth goalie in history to win both the Vezina and Hart trophies in the same season.
The 32-year-old, who has claimed the Vezina Trophy three times in his career, was the first of Team USA’s three skilled goalies (Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger) to receive the start in Milan, and Hellebuyck appreciates the opportunity.
“It definitely (is) a milestone to be in the net, but I’m just so proud to represent my country and develop my game over so many years,” Hellebuyck mentioned during a meet and greet with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team at the Starbucks Winter House on Wednesday. “I wasn’t sure if I would ever get this chance, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the NHL allowing players to participate in the Olympics.
“Now that we're here and they're permitting it, it feels almost surreal.”
Hellebuyck expressed that he felt the “shivers” while attending the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team’s 5-0 win over Canada on Tuesday, and he acknowledged experiencing his own nerves on Thursday for his Olympic debut in goal.
“Yeah, a little bit,” Hellebuyck admitted. “I mean, there’s just a lot happening. It’s not your typical NHL life over here, and you’re trying to adjust to essentially dorm life and late games, time zones, so yes, there’s a lot going on. But that’s what makes it exciting. It’s a new challenge and a new way to adapt, and that’s what I enjoy.”
Hellebuyck hopes he and his teammates can make the kids and fans back home proud.
“I remember Ryan Miller having an incredible run (in 2010),” Hellebuyck noted. “You create such a significant impact for USA Hockey. It’s monumental for the sport. You can see that everyone around us is so passionate about it. For me personally, it’s just a dream realized. It’s something I’ve looked forward to my entire life.”
The U.S. will next face Denmark, which lost 3-1 to Germany, on Saturday at 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network | Peacock).
HELLEBUYCK’S ADVICE FOR YOUTH GOALIES
Hellebuyck’s initial instinct was to share the same advice often given by various professionals when asked what they would tell young players during the U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp in August.
“I mean, always have fun, right?” Hellebuyck responded.
He then paused to consider what additional advice he would offer to young goalies in the net.
“Probably the best piece of advice I can give them is to study the game,” Hellebuyck stated. “Don't just focus on your skills on the ice; continue to work hard. If you want to advance to the next level, you need to take a step back and analyze your game, identify your strengths, areas for improvement, and where technique can be applied.
“That encompasses a broad spectrum. Watching film and truly understanding your position and what’s happening around you.”
Hellebuyck is one of the few players in Milan without a roommate, and he is comfortable with that because he wouldn’t want to inconvenience any of his teammates. While it is common for players to take a pre-game nap, especially with a 9:10 p.m. puck drop locally, that isn’t Hellebuyck’s routine.
“It’s just another day until game time. But mostly, I ensure I’m eating properly and getting what I need in the morning, whether that’s activating in the gym or skating in the morning to get up to speed. But generally, I’m quite relaxed and just trying to build up some energy for the evening.
Ultimately, Hellebuyck still views himself as a student of the game – even as a 32-year-old Olympian.
Hellebuyck will continue to challenge himself to strive for more as well.
“You can definitely learn that everyone here has faced numerous failures,” Hellebuyck concluded. “That’s where you learn. That’s how you improve. Don’t let that alter who you are. Use it as motivation to become the next version, the better version of yourself.
“Every poor game is a lesson learned.”
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