By: Jerry Burke
The 5'9", 186 pound forward is signed with the Trenton Titans for the 2004-05 season. His professional career comes on the heals of a 32 goal, 39 assist tenure at Yale, along the way setting a record for career short-handed goals for the Ivy League school. His four years as a Bulldog also brought an Ivy League championship and the honor of being the captain of the squad his senior year. In his last game, a 4-3 overtime loss to St. Lawrence in the playoffs, he score two goals and had one assist, including the game tying score with less than a minute remaining in regulatiuon, forcing overtime.
Before Yale, Hellemeyer played for the N.Y. Applecore in the Eastern Junior Hockey League, leading the team in assists (31) and scoring 42 points in 29 games. He was also named to the U.S. Select 17 team that traveled to the Czech Republic in August of 1999.
"He's a very dedicated kid," said his older brother John. "He goes to the gym for two hours a day and skates about two hours after that." John said his brother started playing after his parents bought him his first pair of skates at the age of two. Not only did Vincent and his big brother skate everyday before and after school, but his dad built a backyard rink out of wood and plastic every winter for his boys.
"He's in excellent physical and mental condition, and he'll do great," said his proud sibling. "Although he doesn't always take the advice I give him, when he gets on the ice and playes tough and skates hard."
