JacksFan41
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| Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:05 pm Looking to take the Jacks to the "Next Level" |
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Don McKee took over as Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations 19 games into the 1999-2000 season. One month later, McKee made his first trade, acquiring an undersized defenseman in a three-way trade involving the El Paso Buzzards and the Lake Charles (Louisiana) Ice Pirates. The Buzzards and Ice Pirates are no longer around. The D-man? He not only remains, he is, in many respects, the very image of the Jackalopes. And … he’s coming back.
The Jackalopes have re-signed Scott Hillman for the 2006-2007 Central Hockey League season. “Scott provides our hockey club with a foundation, not just on the blue line, but in every aspect of the game,” McKee said. “We have some exceptional leadership on this team, when you consider Donnie Margettie, Matt Cressman, Jeff Ewasko and Hilly,” the Jacks coach said. “We would not be the same hockey club without him.”
Now entering his 9th professional season … eight of those with the Jackalopes … Hillman is the franchise’s all-time leader in scoring (301 points), assists (238) and games played (413), and was the first player to appear in 400 or more games and to score 300 or more points in a Jackalopes sweater.
The 32-year-old from LaSalle, Ontario, is a three-time Central Hockey League All-Star, selected to play in the CHL All-Star Game in 2002, 2003 and 2004, the last two of those seasons as a starter. He was the Jacks’ Defenseman of the Year in four consecutive seasons (2000-2004) and was named the Central Hockey League’s Man of the Year for the 2001-2002 season.
“Hilly is one of those rare players,” McKee said. “He is a skilled blue liner offensively and defensively, is both physical and an extremely intelligent player, a leader on the ice and in the (locker) room and he gives you the same effort each and every night. There just aren’t many hockey players about whom you can say that.”
Hillman annually ranks among the top scoring defensemen in the CHL, and had back-to-back 50-plus point seasons in 2002-03 (61 points … 16 goals + 45 assists) and 2003-04 (53 points … 10 + 43). His 61 points and 16 goals remain franchise water marks among defensemen.
As a member of the Jackalopes’ Governors’ Cup championship club in 2001-02, Hillman set a franchise record with a +27 plus/minus rating. He has twice recorded four assists in one game, which ties the franchise mark.
The December, 1999 trade engineered by McKee to acquire Hillman nearly backfired (perhaps literally).
Having opened the season in Germany before coming to El Paso (where, despite being heavily recruited, he saw very little ice time), Hillman said he considered not reporting to Odessa. His primary reason for reconsidering? Scott had recently purchased a new car and needed to make his payment. So, it was the lure of the paycheck that brought him to the Jackalopes.
“Isn’t it ironic,” McKee said, “eight years ago, Scott wasn’t sure he wanted to come here at all. Now,
this is home and he has a very successful business. It’s really a remarkable story. I know one thing, I’d sure like to shake that car salesman’s hand!”
Hillman owns and operates Next Level Wellness & Sports Training, which has now expanded to locations in both Midland and Odessa. Combining a full-time business with a professional hockey career also makes for a “long haul.”
“It’s a challenge, when you consider a long, six-month season, the travel and the physical nature of the game,” McKee said. “I know Scott has given this decision (to return) a great deal of thought and, once that decision was made, we know he’ll give a one hundred percent effort. That’s just Scott Hillman, and
that’s part of what makes him special.”
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