Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has an interesting tie to West Texas oil town Odessa

It’s not every day you associate ice hockey with Texas, especially oil-country West Texas made famous by the TV show Landman. But for Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, that unlikely backdrop was briefly part of his rise to stardom.

The Michigan native was overlooked in high school, passed over as a goalie after finishing his career at Walled Lake Northern in 2011 with a 6-16-1 record, despite posting an impressive .93 save percentage. With no buzz during the draft and few offers from major colleges, he decided to head 1,400 miles southwest to Odessa, Texas. There, he earned a tryout with the junior-level Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League.

It's a rink better known to locals as a converted rodeo arena than as a springboard to Olympic fame. Hellebuyck played 53 games in 2011-12, led the NAHL in appearances, minutes, and total saves, and was named the league’s co-Rookie and co-Goaltender of the Year.

In Milan, Hellebuyck transformed a lifetime of unlikely twists into a defining moment. He made 41 saves in the gold-medal game against Canada, setting a new record for an Olympic final featuring NHL players. His performance was crucial in the 2-1 overtime victory that secured the United States' first men's hockey gold medal since 1980.

He was named the tournament's best goaltender and a media all-star, with former U.S. greats describing his performance as "beyond belief" and a defining moment in an already illustrious career. Hellebuyck is in the second year of a seven-year, $59.5 million extension, which includes an $8.5 million cap hit and a no-move clause at the start. On the Jets' depth chart, he is the clear No. 1, carrying one of the heaviest workloads in the league.

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