Jake Hildebrand

Jake Hildebrand (born June 19, 1993) is an American ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Jake Hildebrand
Jake Hildebrand, 2023
Born (1993-06-19) June 19, 1993
Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
DEL team
Former teams		 Eisbären Berlin
Rockford IceHogs
Löwen Frankfurt
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2016–present

Playing career

In 2012, Hildebrand enrolled at Michigan State University to play NCAA Men's Division I college hockey with the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten Conference. In his junior year, Hildebrand's outstanding play was recognized when he was selected the 2014–15 Big Ten Best Goaltender and Big Ten Player of the Year.[1] He was also named to the NCAA (West) First All-American Team.[2] At the end of his 2015–16 season with the Spartans, he signed with the Allen Americans of the ECHL.[3]

As a free agent embarking on his professional career, Hildebrand agreed to a one-year contract with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League on June 15, 2016.[4] In the 2016–17 season, Hildebrand as a depth goaltender appeared in just 3 games with the IceHogs, appearing primarily with ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel.

Unable to mark an impression with the IceHogs, Hildebrand left as a free agent and signed a one-year deal to continue in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers on August 3, 2017.[5] In the 2017–18 season, Hildebrand assumed starting goaltender duties, appearing in 44 games with the Oilers and posting a .901 save percentage.

In the off-season, Hildebrand was traded by the Oilers to the Kalamazoo Wings in exchange for Scott Henegar on July 24, 2018.[6]

With the Wing going on hiatus for the pandemic affected 2020–21 season, Hildebrand was signed as a free agent by the Florida Everblades of the ECHL on January 12, 2021.[7] In the delayed 2020-21 season, Hildebrand established career highs and was the standout goaltender in the league, posting 23 wins and a 2.40 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage to be named the ECHL Goaltender of the Year.[8]

After six seasons within the ECHL, Hildebrand opted to pursue a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with German club, Löwen Frankfurt of the DEL2, on July 23, 2021.[9]

Helping Frankurt gain promotion to the DEL, in the following 2022–23 season, Hildebrand posted 22 wins through 50 regular season games with Frankfurt in their first season in the top tier. After their defeat in the playoff qualifiers to Düsseldorfer EG, Hildebrand left Löwen Frankfurt at the conclusion of his contract on March 19, 2023.[10]

On June 13, 2023, Hildebrand opted to remain in the DEL, signing a one-year contract with Eisbären Berlin for the 2023–24 season.[11]

Awards and honors
Award Year
College
Big Ten Best Goaltender 2014–15 [12]
Big Ten Player of the Year 2014–15 [13]
Big Ten First All-Star Team 2014–15 [14]
NCAA (West) First All-American Team 2014–15 [15]
ECHL
All-ECHL First Team 2020–21 [16]
Goaltender of the Year 2020–21 [8]

References
  1. "Hildebrand is B1G player of year; Larkin top frosh".
  2. "Spartan's Hildebrand selected to First Team". Michigan State Spartans. April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  3. "Allen Americans begin quest for fourth straight title against Dallas Stars' ECHL farm team". Sports Day - Dallas News. April 14, 2016.
  4. "Hildebrand, IceHogs agree to terms". Rockford IceHogs. June 15, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  5. "Oilers agree to terms with Jake Hildebrand". Tulsa Oilers. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  6. "K-Wings acquire Jake Hildebrand". Kalamazoo Wings. July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  7. ECHL (January 12, 2021). "Hildebrand signs with Everblades". Twitter. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  8. "FLORIDA'S HILDEBRAND NAMED WARRIOR HOCKEY/ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR". ECHL. June 10, 2021.
  9. "Frankfurt complete signing of Goaltender Jake Hildebrand" (in German). Löwen Frankfurt. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  10. "Six more Lions remain, Head coach and 13 players depart" (in German). Löwen Frankfurt. March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  11. "Eisbären sign goaltender Jake Hildebrand" (in German). Eisbären Berlin. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  12. "Michigan State's Hildebrand named big ten goalie of the year". hockeyworldblog.com. March 17, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. "Hildebrand announced as player of the year". statenews.com. April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  14. "Conference Honors 2014-15". collegehockeyinc.com. April 12, 2015. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  15. "Hildebrand named first team All-American". impact89fm.org. April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  16. "All-ECHL First and Second Teams Announced". OurSports Central. June 3, 2021.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Big Ten Player of the Year
2014–15		 Succeeded by
Preceded by Big Ten Goaltender of the Year
2014–15		 Succeeded by
Eric Schierhorn
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