Connor Hellebuyck didn’t receive a warm welcome in his Winnipeg homecoming by stretch of the imagination, but some Jets fans may have taken things a bit too far.
Devils play-by-play announcer Don La Greca claimed on his radio show that he and the team’s broadcast crew were followed by some fans after Tuesday’s game, apparently looking for the goalie who spent his first 12 NHL seasons with the Jets and was making his first appearance back in Winnipeg after summer-long trade saga which culminated last month with a deal to New Jersey.
The commentator, who also has a radio show on ESPN New York, said that some Jets fans yelled at him asking if they were staying at the same hotel as the superstar goalie.
What happened after the game?
“You felt it, you felt the energy in that building and the hatred they had,” La Greca said on Don, Hahn & Rosenberg. “We walked back to the hotel, there were fans following us, screaming at us, ‘Is this where Hellebuyck is?’ Because they knew we were the Devils announcers. ‘Is this Hellebuyck’s hotel?’ And there were police outside the hotel.”
Hellebuyck — who dressed as the backup for the game and didn’t see any on-ice action — had told reporters after the morning skate on Tuesday that he and his family had received death threats during his time in Winnipeg, which was a major factor in his decision to ask for a trade.
“Some things happened to my family that, for me, crossed the line … and made that decision very certain,” Hellebuyck said, adding his role as a husband and father prompted the decision for “a change in scenery,” and that had he remained in Winnipeg, his family wouldn’t be with him.
“I have two young kids and I want to be present as much as I can be,” he said.
“I’ve loved my time here, but there are a few moments that I don’t want to see happen again,” Hellebuyck added. “There is more that made me and my family uncomfortable. I’m, please, going to ask you to respect my family’s privacy.”
What was Devils announcer’s biggest concern?
Despite the post-game interaction, La Greca said that he didn’t feel scared or threatened by the fans in Winnipeg – though one concerning thought that crossed his mind.
“You know what I worry about? Are they gonna mess with my food? I don’t want to get poisoned here when they find out I’m the Devils announcer,” he said with a laugh. “Most people were nice, but there was real hate for this guy.”
Before, during and after the game, the boisterous crowd at Canada Life Centre didn’t hold back when it came to running down their former superstar netminder.
Connor Hrabchak, a reporter for Winnipeg Sports Talk, documented the many chants directed towards the former Jets superstar, with the trash talk ranging across the spectrum from genuinely funny to seriously mean-spirited.
What did the crowd chant?
Things started out on the angry side of things as fans jeered the goalie during warmups and chanted “Helle sucks” before the puck dropped to open the game.
Throughout the night, fired-up fans chanted “F*** you Helle,” and called the goalie a “Coward” for his perceived reluctance to get the starting assignment.
“Face the music,” “Helle’s fishing,” “Helle’s missing,” and “Where is Connor?” were also heard from the crowd.
The Jets faithful also showed some love for the players that the team received in the swap that shipped Hellebuyck out of town.
The time-tested refrain of “We don’t need you” was also heard echoing through the arena.
Hellebuyck’s reputation for coming up short in the NHL playoffs was called to attention with chants of “playoff choker” and “playoff pylon.”
Which chants were the funniest?
On the humorous side of things, fans prodded Hellebuyck over his trade request despite having committed himself to playing in Winnipeg with a seven-year contract signed in 2023.
“Signed in pencil” was one of the chants that drew some laughs from those following along on social media.
Another online gut-buster was the sing-songy “You’re a coward, you’re a coward, you’re a coward, Clementine.”
“Pull your goalie” was also heard after Allen allowed the first goal of the game, but it was always unlikely the Hellebuyck would get some action unless the night’s starting netminder was injured.