Connor Hellebuyck’s journey through the rinks of the Maritime provinces reads like a Rocky Balboa script, only with fewer sweatbands and more strategically placed goalie pads. As he prepares to hang up his mask at season’s end, the Perth Andover Fiddleheads—and indeed the entire odbhl community—are taking stock of a career that has been, in equal parts, record-smashing and smile-inducing.
From ODBHL Newbie to Record-Holder
When Hellebuyck first laced up for the Fiddleheads, few could have predicted the sheer avalanche of milestones he’d haul in over the next several seasons. Currently, he sits atop the Farm team’s goalie leaderboards in virtually every category that matters:
Wins: 183
Games Played: 367
Ties: 29 (because sometimes a goalie just wants to share the glory)
Shutouts: 61
Put another way: if you lined up every puck Hellebuyck has stopped in a single season, you’d have enough to re-pave the Main Street parking lot in Perth Andover—twice.
The Reluctant Press-Box Pioneer
This season, Connor’s name found itself more often in the press-box lineup than on the game sheet. Rather than brood, though, he embraced his role as “Chairman of the Bench,” making way for rising prospect Alexei Kolosov to soak up ice time (and the accidental broadcast mics). Rumor has it Connor personalized his press-box chair with a cup holder and a mini-fridge—because if you’re forced to watch from the sidelines, you may as well do so in style.
“I told Connor he should’ve sold tickets for that seat,” joked head coach Grant Tallen. “He’s the only guy I know who can bench-press my clipboard.”
A Taste of the Big Time
Despite his farm-team dominance, Hellebuyck wasn’t content to stay in the Fiddleheads’ crease forever. In total, he suited up for nineteen games with the Oromocto Senators. His pro stats read like a punchline—and perhaps that’s why we love him:
Record: 1–1
Goals-Against Average: 4.55 (because some nights the puck finds you like a misplaced sock in a dryer)
Save Percentage: .864 (translation: seven out of every eight shots were politely declined)
That lone win still brings a grin to his face—partly because it was earned, and partly because it involved a highlight-reel glove save on a breakaway that defied both physics and common sense.
Locker-Room Legend
In the Fiddleheads’ locker room, Connor’s legacy extends beyond spreadsheets of shutouts. He’s known for epic pre-game rituals—like reading aloud from Hockey for Dummies (“I just want to make sure we’re all on the same page here,” he’d quip)—and for his uncanny ability to mimic the zap of a puck off the posts. Teammates say his mimicry is so lifelike that visiting players have stopped mid–power play, expecting the goal horn to blare.
“Connor’s the kind of guy who’ll give you half his granola bar and still make you feel like you owe him,” says defenseman Luke Hughes. “Then he’ll beat you in ‘Paper, Scissors, Shootout’ for bragging rights.”
Retirement: A Celebration (and a Slightly Tearful Eyebrow)
As the final horn of his career looms, Perth Andover is planning more than a standard send-off. They’re talking a skate-around-the-rink parade, complete with bagpipes (for that authentic Maritime flair) and a life-size cardboard cutout of Connor in mid-air poke-check. The arena’s Zamboni driver is even refining a special “Hellebuyck Blue” paint that leaves a faint puck-smell in its wake.
“For years, he’s been our backbone,” says General Manager Grant Tallen. “Now it’s our turn to prop his bones up with a celebration he’ll never forget.”
What’s Next?
Retirement for a hockey lifer like Hellebuyck doesn’t mean trading pads for pants—it means new challenges (pond-hockey leagues? coaching clinics? cameo in a Fiddleheads promotional video?). Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: when Connor steps off the ice for the last time, he leaves behind a legacy of resilience, record books he may never relinquish, and enough locker-room stories to keep fans chuckling through the off-season.
So here’s to Connor Hellebuyck: the wins leader, the shutout king, the press-box entrepreneur, and the guy who proved that sometimes, the biggest saves happen off the ice. Enjoy retirement, Connor—just don’t be surprised if there’s an empty press-box chair with your name on it, waiting for whenever you decide to saddle up and watch one more game.
4/24/2025 - 676 words
