He was Edmonton’s first round draft pick in 2004. They obviously thought he had potential. The young American from Syracuse, NY played in the World Junior Championships two years in a row, 2005 and 2006, and had points in each of those series.
I always enjoy talking to Jack Hillen because he really thinks about his answers and will even tell you he doesn’t have an answer when he doesn’t. He is one young man who has come a long way since his first days on Long Island.
Hillen came straight from Colorado College in April of 2008. To get his feet wet in the NHL, he played two of the final games of the '07-'08 season with the Islanders. He had one assist point, four penalty minutes and 3 shots on goal. He spent that summer learning the ropes of the Islanders community events and becoming familiar with his new home. I remember Jack being a little on the shy and quiet side. I was hoping that Long Island wouldn’t scare the life out of this youngster from Minnetonka, MN.
He played 33 games for Bridgeport and 40 for the Islanders the next season and though he ended the year as a -9, he was awarded a two year deal in July of 2009. Hillen has been impressive this season ending with 21 points in 69 games. (Although he ended as a -5.) That didn't seem to matter as even the Canadian media took notice this season. It wasn’t exactly a shock that Team USA tagged Hillen to join Kyle Okposo this May for the World Championships. It was more a pleasant surprise.
I asked Jack the same questions I asked the others on Monday, 4/12.
“I love watching the playoffs. It’s the best hockey outside of Olympic hockey. It’s really exciting. So I pay attention to it and I try to watch as manby games as I can.” He named “beautiful summer nights” and “golf” as possible playoff distractions and now he will have to add heading to Germany for a few weeks in May.
When I asked Jack what he felt his biggest accomplishment was this season, he was quick to answer.
“I think the way I played before the injury showed I could be a top 4 -- top 2 “D” man in this league I think that was important. After the injury, I think I showed I could over come some adversity. It wasn’t easy coming back, especially without my energy. So after the injury I was happy with that.”
Jack missed only nine games after suffering a broken jaw when a puck struck him in the face and shattered his jaw. It could have shattered his season as well. He returned to the ice quicker than expected, but as he said, it wasn’t easy. While the scar on his chin is still very fresh, he was lucky they didn't need to wire his jaw shut which assisted in his speedy recovery.
Hillen is an excellent skater, and yet that is what he said he’d be working on in the off season. The first time Assistant GM Ryan Jankowski asked me what I thought of Jack, that was the only thing that came to mind. "I love the way he skates." I told him. So when I asked what he would be working on this off-season, I was a little surprised.
“I always like to work on my skating. I feel like I have to keep my edge in that. But obviously, getting a shot through too. I looked at those stats just the other week and all the high point getting defensemen always have the most shots on net. So I was just looking, I probably had 80 shots this year (78 Jack), around there. If I could get that up to 120 - 150 shots, there’s more points out there to be had.”
Since I didn’t know that Jack was going to be tagged by Team USA, I asked him my “When do you get antsy for the season to start again” question.
“You know what -- the off season goes by so quickly and the regular season is so long, that you really don’t start getting geared up for it until you start going to your agent’s camp and skating and training religiously. So probably the end of August you start to get really geared up for it.“
I’m pretty sure Jack will have to do another tour of duty this summer for Community events, so I’ll check back with him about it then. Maybe he'll even have a medal with him then. Wouldn't THAT be nice?
With game 4 of the AHL playoffs scheduled in Bridgeport today at 3 pm, I couldn't resist the temptation of going to one last hockey game for the season.
It was a beautiful day for a ferry ride across the Sound. I made a mistake about the ferry schedule so we missed the noon ferry. But the 1:30pm ferry did arrive in time for the game. There were a few other Isles fan on the ferry, but not as many as there were that last Sunday game in March.
There was no line to get in, which surprised me. The concourse seemed a little quiet too. We headed to the bar to say "Hi" to one of the staples of the Arena and grab a quick drink. We ran to the gate just in time and were shown to our seats. As soon as we sat down I looked around and couldn't believe it.
"Where is everyone???"
So many empty seats! Such a waste! The venue is a fabulous value! I know there was playoff hockey on the TV, but these are great games at a great price. Ms. Katrina and I sat back and enjoyed the game with one of the Sound Tigers biggest fans sitting behind us.
Patsy Ordway (hopefully that is how to spell it) is a season ticket holder for the past five years. She is very invested in the team financially and emotionally. When the contingent of Bears fans were cheering on their team, she led the counter attack. She has a question for Coach Capuano though. "Yesterday on the Saturday game, for ten minutes, were they that much better or did we just implode?"
The fact that the Bears have won 60 games this season hasn't eluded her. She doesn't think they were as aggressive as they needed to be for that ten minutes that caused the Tigers to blow the game.
When I asked her if she felt that Monroe was the cause she said no. "I don't think it was Scott. There were just tons of turnovers."
"they're playing way more aggressive today. This is what they were doing in the first and third. Just not the second."
The Tigers had "their backs up against the way" and had to win today or it would have been a sweep.
Up on the fourth floor, I noticed Trevor Gillies sitting with fellow players looking very much like Panama Jack in a white straw fedora with a black band. I could tell it was him by that famous mustache of his.
I ventured up on the elevator and tracked him down. He told me he was wearing it because it was his lucky hat and the Tigers needed to win today. I explained he shouldn't worry because they always won when I came to visit. He asked me why I hadn't come by more often. Yikes. I wasn't thinking.
Well, I was actually there to see Mikko Koskinen, our 6'5" 21 year-old Finnish goalie. He's huge. When he's down on his knees he's the size of Glenn Healey. There were many familiar names on the ice today and many we will be seeing again in October.
For now, they have another game against the Bears on Wednesday. I can't be there, but I'm certainly hoping Trevor is there in his lucky hat. It seemed to work.
Let's Go Tigers!
Note: I'd like to thank a few people who made the ferry ride back home last night so pleasant. To our bartender Justin who was more than accomodating even though I was only drinking club soda. To the very handsome, dimpled, blue-eyed construction worker who lives only two towns away from me -- Yes. The world is the size of a walnut and you and Ms. Katrina had a lot of things to talk about. Even if she is an Eagles fan. To the father and son Isles fans that stood with us the entire ferry ride; thank you for a few laughs and explaining to our new friend how Isles fans CAN'T root for the Flyers -- EVER. So our wanting the Devils to win the game was actually acceptable.
To the two heavily made up tank top wearing women who chatted up the biker grandfathers for over an hour -- I seriously didn't care if you were Ranger fans. They are on the golf course too. But I'm pretty sure you had no idea of that.
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