Hellebuyck, Petkau celebrate Vezina win

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This article was published 25/09/2020 (1727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This year’s Vezina Trophy winner as the National Hockey League’s top goaltender has a strong connection to Steinbach.

Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck won the award in an announcement from the bubble Monday night in Edmonton, where the Stanley Cup finals are currently being played.

Steinbach’s Ray Petkau has been his agent for the past few years and Petkau’s company NET 360 in Kelowna, under trainer Adam Francilia, has been instrumental in developing Hellebuyck into an NHL goaltending superstar.

“When it was announced that Connor had won, I have to admit there were a few tears of joy with Connor and Adam as we were connected on zoom.”

Hellebuyck was at home in Michigan with his family and Petkau says it was a shame they were not able to all be in Las Vegas together to celebrate, which is where the awards are held on an annual basis.

Two years ago, when Hellebuyck was one of three Vezina finalists, Petkau was in Vegas with him for the NHL awards, where he ended up finishing second. “Just being part of the awards was tremendous, even though we didn’t win.”

Needless to say, Petkau says “this has been a very exciting and wonderful week.”

And he says they are just proud that they have been able to assist in his development and work with him as he has become the elite goaltender he is today.

Winning one of these NHL major awards is not easy. In fact the last time a Winnipeg Jets player won one was in 1993 when Teemu Selanne was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.

Hellebuyck had a stellar season this year, working behind a completely rebuilt defence as the big goaltending held the fort on many a night.

Over the year he compiled a record of 31-21-5 along with a .922 save percentage and a 2.57 GAA. His 31 wins were second in the NHL. He also faced the most shots of any goaltender in the league and was tied with Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens for the most games played this season.

Hellebuyck has just completed the second year of a six-year $37 million contract that Petkau negotiated with the Jets in 2018.

Petkau also represents a number of other NHL players, predominantly goaltenders, including Jets’ back up Laurent Brossoit, along with James Reimer, Thomas Greiss and former Steinbach Pistons great and Vancouver Canucks draft pick Matthew Thiessen, among others.