Former UMass Lowell ice hockey goaltender and current backstop for the Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck was named this year's Vezina Trophy winner during the 2020 NHL Awards on Monday evening.
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the best goaltender in the league, as selected by the NHL's 31 general managers. After being named the runner-up for the title in 2017-18, Hellebuyck becomes the first goalie in the history of the Jets' organization to earn the honor. He is also the first NCAA alum to claim that distinction since Tim Thomas (2011, '09) and Ryan Miller (2010) won three straight, in addition to becoming the first ever Mike Richter Award recipient to win the Vezina.
"We'd like to congratulate Connor on his most recent accomplishment, winning the Vezina Trophy as this year's top NHL goalie," said UMass Lowell Head Coach
Norm Bazin. "Seems like just yesterday that he was lifting the Hockey East Championship trophies during his years at UMass Lowell. What he has accomplished since that time is remarkable. He continues to play at an elite level, showing tremendous consistency to go along with his unmatched work ethic. We are very proud of him and wish him continued success with the Jets' organization."
Hellebuyck finished second in the NHL in wins (31), first in shutouts (six) and seventh in save percentage (.922) among goalies who played at least 20 games in 2019-20. He was 31-21-5 with a 2.57 goals-against average and allowed two or fewer goals in 32 of his 58 games to help the Jets (37-28-6, .563 points percentage) advance to the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. Hellebuyck also led all NHL goalies in shots faced (1,796) and saves (1,656), and logged an NHL career-high 51 stops in a 3-2 win at the San Jose on November 1.
"This is a huge moment in my life," Hellebuyck said in a live Zoom interview during the virtual awards show. "First, I would like to congratulation the other nominees because it's an honor to be part of that group. I would also like to congratulate my teammates because without a good team, none of this would be possible. Also, thank you to my coaches and the organization for believing in me the entire way."
In two seasons with the River Hawks, the two-time Hockey East Tournament MVP led his team to back-to-back Hockey East Championships in 2013 and 2014, as well as an appearance in the 2013 Frozen Four. He posted a 38-12-2 record in 52 career starts to go along with a school-record 1.60 GAA, .946 save percentage and 12 shutouts.
Hellebuyck finished with 123 points, including 19 first-place votes, in voting for the Vezina Trophy before the NHL postseason began. Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning were the other finalists.
