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Connor Hellebuyck Gets Surprised with Hart and Vezina Trophies in Most Unexpected Way

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 12:42 PM ET

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck won the Hart and Vezina Trophies, and he received them in the most unexpected way, while he was away on a fishing trip.

Connor Hellebuyck completed an all-time season by registering a rare and historic moment.

As he spent a serene day fishing with his agent, Ray Petkau, in Michigan, the Winnipeg Jets goaltender returned to shore to a surprise: the Vezina Trophy on his front lawn.

'Connor is going out fishing, doing what he loves the most besides hockey,' his wife Andrea said. 'We're going to try and surprise him with the Vezina (Trophy), which he has no idea that he's getting.'
'At first I saw someone in my yard,' Hellebuyck said. 'I was kind of confused about that.'

But the celebration didn't end there, as Hellebuyck also won the Hart Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player, just the fifth goalie in history to claim both awards in one season.

The 32-year-old stole the 2024-25 season, finishing 47-12-3 and tying Andrei Vasilevskiy for games played (63).

He led goalies in wins, goals-against average (2.00), and shutouts (eight) and was second in save percentage (.925) behind Toronto's Anthony Stolarz (.926). Hellebuyck allowed two or fewer goals in 40 games and one or fewer in 27.

It was his third career Vezina trophy (2019-20, 2023-24), defeating finalists Vasilevskiy and Darcy Kuemper. He is the first goaltender since Carey Price (2014-15) to win the Hart, and the ninth overall in award history (101 years old).

Jets teammate Eric Comrie weighed in on the moment, bolting onto the lawn and joking, 'Where's the other trophy?', just before they announced and revealed the Hart silverware.

'That moment was like putting a little cherry on top,' Hellebuyck said of getting the Hart.' I actually had no idea what this trophy looked like.
'Looking back, I'll probably picture this day as one of the greatest of my career.'

Hellebuyck also won a third trophy this season, the William M. Jennings

Hellebuyck didn't stop there. He also won the William M. Jennings Trophy for helping the Jets yield the fewest goals in the NHL (191), Winnipeg led the league standings (56-22-4), and won the Presidents' Trophy.

Hellebuyck and the Jets both experienced a season to remember.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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