歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� If you told Max Hildebrand two years ago he鈥檇 be making a college commitment, he wouldn鈥檛 have believed you.

Hildebrand is the latest Bemidji State men鈥檚 hockey commit, and it came after a significant

The NCAA Division-I Council voted on Nov. 7 to amend a longstanding rule that deemed the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League as professional leagues.

Canadian Hockey League players are eligible to be recruited now. They can be placed on rosters Aug. 1, 2025, and play next season.

A week after the ruling, Hildebrand chose to become a Beaver.

鈥淥bviously, it happened pretty quick with the rule change,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had some schools talking to me pretty quick. If you had told me this was happening a couple of years ago, I wouldn鈥檛 have expected it. But it鈥檚 awesome, it鈥檚 going to be good for players to get four more years of playing time and get to go to school. I鈥檓 super excited about it.鈥�

Hildebrand is in this third season with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL. He鈥檚 played in 17 games this season, posting a .900 save percentage and a 3.56 goals-against average.

Courtesy / Prince Albert Raiders / Mark Peterson

Last year, Hildebrand notched a record of 25-20-2 in the regular season for the Raiders. He had a .907 save percentage and a 2.88 goals-against average. He also had a .902 mark in goal in the playoffs with a 3.63 GAA.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my compete and battle level, I like to call myself a winner,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think I just compete in the net and give my team a chance to win every night. Obviously, you鈥檙e not going to be Picasso every night. But I like battling through games and finding ways to give my team a chance.鈥�

Hildebrand was the first of two CHL players to commit to Bemidji State in the last week. Serratore also picked up forward Brady Birnie from the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL on Sunday.

Hildebrand鈥檚 arrival to BSU will come after longtime goaltender Mattias Sholl鈥檚 departure. Sholl will graduate following the 2024-25 season.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get a chance to prove myself in my first year,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously, with (BSU) losing Sholl 鈥� I鈥檝e started looking at highlights since I committed, and he鈥檚 an unreal goalie 鈥搕hat鈥檚 something me and Tom talked about, the rich history of goaltending there. They move guys on to play pro, and that鈥檚 a big thing for me.鈥�

Hildebrand鈥檚 connections to the WHL run deep. His dad, Steve Hildebrand, is the assistant general manager for the Saskatoon Blades.

Courtesy / Prince Albert Raiders / Mark Peterson

So when Hildebrand had his breakout season in Prince Albert last year, he realized hockey could become a career if he played his cards right.

鈥淚 grew up in a hockey family,鈥� Hildebrand said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of been my life for a long time. Last year, I started to play a lot more, and I was playing good hockey. I think that鈥檚 when I realized going pro could be a possibility.鈥�

When the NCAA announced its rule change, he had already received interest from collegiate programs. Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore was one of the first to reach out.

鈥淚t started happening a week before the rule change,鈥� Hildebrand said. 鈥淚 started getting texts and calls. 鈥� I was super excited about it because (BSU) was one of the first ones to reach out. I did some research on it, I have some friends who play in the same conference as them. I鈥檝e heard nothing but great things.鈥�

Hildebrand said his move to Bemidji will be his first time being in Minnesota.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a small town, it鈥檚 a hockey town, from what I鈥檝e heard,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been to Minnesota before but I鈥檓 excited to come see it. I鈥檝e heard it鈥檚 beautiful. I鈥檝e seen the pictures of campus on the lake there. But other than that, I don鈥檛 know too much, that鈥檚 for sure.鈥�

Courtesy / Prince Albert Raiders / Mark Peterson

Hildebrand added that making a quick commitment was important for him, as he wants to finish out his last season in the WHL with the sole focus on winning a championship.

But when it鈥檚 time to pack his bags for Bemidji, he鈥檚 eyeing a fruitful collegiate career.

鈥淚鈥檓 super excited to get down there and meet everyone,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to be the next guy at Bemidji State. I want to win a lot of hockey games and win a lot in the playoffs. I want to be a pro hockey player. Having schooling is never a bad option at the end of your career. It鈥檚 a super high level of hockey, playing against older guys. I get four more years of pro teams watching me, so there are really no negatives in this for me.鈥�