Colin Bilek

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Colin Bilek
Born (1997-06-04) June 4, 1997 (age 26)
Brighton, Michigan, USA
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
AHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Rockford IceHogs
Indy Fuel (ECHL)
Manitoba Moose
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2022–present

Colin Bilek (born June 4, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey right wing who is currently Indy Fuel in the ECHL while under contract with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL). He previously played collegiate hockey with the United States Military Academy. He was an All-American for Army.[1]

Playing career[edit]

Bilek began his college career in 2018 with little fanfare. The undrafted forward signed on with the Army Black Knights, a program that typically serves as the last final chapter in a young player's career before moving on to a different professional career. Bilek spent his first two seasons providing moderate offensive numbers. He game showed a small improvement as a sophomore despite having his season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] He was named team captain entering his junior season and Bilek responded with a tremendous offensive outburst. While playing eleven fewer games, he more than doubled his goal production, finishing among the national leaders with 18 markers in just 22 games. The stunning performance earned his a spot on the All-American team and put the Black Knights in a position to earn a NCAA Tournament bid for the first time. Unfortunately, Army fell in the conference semifinals and were ultimately left out of the bracket.[3]

On July 27, 2022, Bilek embarked on his professional career after signing a one-year AHL contract with the Manitoba Moose, the primary affiliate to the Winnipeg Jets.[4] In the 2022–23 season, Bilek was initially assigned to make his professional debut with ECHL club, Trois-Rivières Lions. He was later recalled to the Moose and featured in 2 games for the club before returning to the Lions. Bilek added 14 goals and 23 points in 45 games with Trois-Rivières before he was traded by the Moose to the Rockford IceHogs for future considerations and immediately assigned to continue in the ECHL with the Indy Fuel on February 27, 2023.[5]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Brighton High USHS 31 8 8 16 4
2014–15 Brighton High USHS 25 12 10 22 30
2015–16 Rochester Jr. Americans USPHL 26 9 11 21 20 3 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Northeast Generals NAHL 60 18 22 40 87
2017–18 Northeast Generals NAHL 57 18 32 50 56 5 1 1 2 2
2018–19 Army AHA 38 7 10 17 12
2019–20 Army AHA 33 7 13 20 33
2020–21 Army AHA 22 18 7 25 20
2021–22 Army AHA 34 11 20 31 37
2022–23 Trois-Rivières Lions ECHL 45 14 9 23 16
2022–23 Manitoba Moose AHL 2 0 0 0 7
2022–23 Indy Fuel ECHL 18 7 4 11 11 4 2 1 3 4
2022–23 Rockford IceHogs AHL 1 0 0 0 0
AHL totals 3 0 0 0 7

Awards and honors[edit]

Award Year
College
All-Atlantic Hockey East First Team 2020–21 [6]
AHCA East Second Team All-American 2020–21 [1]
All-Atlantic Hockey First Team 2021–22 [7]
AHCA East Second Team All-American 2021–22 [8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Remainder of 2020 Atlantic Hockey Tournament Cancelled". atlantichockeyonline.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey championship selections announced". NCAA.com. March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Moose ink pair of forwards". Manitoba Moose. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Hogs trade for Bilek". Rockford IceHogs. February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Atlantic Hockey Announces All-Conference and All-Rookie Winners". Atlantic Hockey. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "Atlantic Hockey Announces 2021-22 All-Conference Teams". Atlantic Hockey. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay". USCHO.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.

External links[edit]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Scoring Trophy
2021–22
With: Neil Shea
Succeeded by
Incumbent