Hildebrand re-signs with K-Wings

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced the return of goaltender Jake Hildebrand for the 2019-20 season.

Hildebrand appeared in 46 games in 2018-19 after the K-Wings acquired him in a trade with the Tulsa Oilers last summer. The Butler, Pennsylvania native went 21-18-2 with a 3.58 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage during his first season in Kalamazoo, and won 11 straight decisions from January 13 to February 23.

Following a four-year college career at Michigan State University, Hildebrand signed with the ECHL’s Allen Americans, appearing in six regular season and eight playoff games in helping the Americans to the Kelly Cup championship in 2016. The 26-year-old has appeared in 143 ECHL games for Allen, Indy, Tulsa and Kalamazoo, as well as three AHL games with the Rockford IceHogs.

Hildebrand played in 133 games as MSU’s four-year starter from 2012-16. His best college season came in 2014-15 as a junior, where he went 17-16-2 with a 2.18 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.