Blake Hillman

Blake Hillman (born January 26, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL). Hillman was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round, 173rd overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.^[1]

Blake Hillman
Born	(1996-01-26) January 26, 1996 (age 29) Elk River, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
AHL team Former teams	Hartford Wolf Pack Chicago Blackhawks
NHL draft	173rd overall, 2016 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2018–present

Playing career

Hillman played two seasons in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints and Waterloo Black Hawks,^[2] before attending the University of Denver.^[3] Hillman played three years at the University of Denver where he was a member of the 2017 NCAA Champion Denver Pioneers.^[4] Hillman was drafted in the sixth round, 173rd overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

At the end of his junior year, Hillman signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on March 27, 2018,^[1] and made his NHL debut on March 30, 2018, in a game between the Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche.^[5] Hillman recorded his first career NHL goal on April 4, 2018, in a game against the St. Louis Blues, to help the Blackhawks win 4–3.^[6]

As an impending restricted free agent, Hillman was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Blackhawks, releasing him as a free agent on June 25, 2019.^[7] With limited interest from NHL/AHL clubs, Hillman signed a one-year contract with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL on July 26, 2019.^[8] In the 2019–20 season, Hillman contributed with 13 points through 35 regular season games with the Walleye, while also leaving on loan on two occasions by signing two tryout contracts in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins and Stockton Heat.

On January 20, 2021, Hillman extended his professional career by signing with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL for the 2020–21 season.^[9]

Following the 2021–22 season, having played with the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL and the Grand Rapids Griffins, Providence Bruins in the AHL, Hillman was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack on July 6, 2022.^[10]

International play

Hillman represented Team USA at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge where he helped Team USA win their 6th gold medal.^[2]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011–12	Elk River High	USHS		25	2	4	6	8		2	0	0	0	0
2012–13	Elk River High	USHS		24	2	12	14	8		2	0	2	2	2
2013–14	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL		57	3	10	13	24		7	0	0	0	0
2014–15	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL		42	3	8	11	12		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL		13	0	7	7	6		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	University of Denver	NCHC		39	3	8	11	14		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	University of Denver	NCHC		43	1	7	8	18		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	University of Denver	NCHC		41	3	9	12	52		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		4	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		54	1	3	4	20		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		35	1	12	13	8		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		5	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Stockton Heat	AHL		7	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	South Carolina Stingrays	ECHL		43	3	8	11	12		12	0	1	1	2
2021–22	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		13	2	11	13	2		13	1	6	7	6
2021–22	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		10	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Providence Bruins	AHL		20	0	7	7	6		1	0	0	0	0
2022–23	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		29	0	5	5	14		7	2	2	4	2
2023–24	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		60	4	11	16	6		10	1	2	3	2
2024–25	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		50	3	7	10	12		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				4	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—