Colin Bilek Explained

Colin Bilek
Birth Date:4 June 1997
Birth Place:Brighton, Michigan, USA
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:180
Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Right
League:ECHL
Team:Indy Fuel
Former Teams:Manitoba Moose
Rockford IceHogs
Career Start:2022
Draft:Undrafted

Colin Bilek (born June 4, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey right wing who is currently playing with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL. He previously played collegiate hockey with the United States Military Academy. He was an All-American for Army.

Playing career

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.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2013–14Brighton HighUSHS31 8 8 16 4
2014–15Brighton HighUSHS25 12 10 22 30
2015–16Rochester Jr. AmericansUSPHL26 9 11 21 20 3 0 0 0 0
2016–17 NAHL season2016–17Northeast GeneralsNAHL60 18 22 40 87
2017–18 NAHL season2017–18Northeast GeneralsNAHL57 18 32 50 56 5 1 1 2 2
2018–19ArmyAHA38 7 10 17 12
2019–20ArmyAHA33 7 13 20 33
2020–21ArmyAHA22 18 7 25 20
2021–22ArmyAHA34 11 20 31 37
2022–23Trois-Rivières LionsECHL45 14 9 23 16
2022–23Manitoba MooseAHL2 0 0 0 7
2022–23Indy FuelECHL18 7 4 11 11 4 2 1 3 4
2022–23Rockford IceHogsAHL1 0 0 0 0
2023–24Indy FuelECHL51 20 23 43 66 5 0 1 1 4
AHL totals 3 0 0 0 7

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-Atlantic Hockey East First Team2020–21[5]
AHCA East Second Team All-American2020–21[6]
All-Atlantic Hockey First Team2021–22[7]
AHCA East Second Team All-American2021–22[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Remainder of 2020 Atlantic Hockey Tournament Cancelled. atlantichockeyonline.com. March 12, 2020. March 12, 2020.
  2. News: 2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey championship selections announced . NCAA.com. March 21, 2021. March 18, 2021.
  3. Web site: Moose ink pair of forwards . . July 27, 2022 . July 27, 2022.
  4. Web site: Hogs trade for Bilek . . February 27, 2023 . February 27, 2023.
  5. Web site: Atlantic Hockey Announces All-Conference and All-Rookie Winners . Atlantic Hockey . March 11, 2021 . March 31, 2021.
  6. News: Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners. NCAA.org. June 11, 2013.
  7. Web site: Atlantic Hockey Announces 2021-22 All-Conference Teams . Atlantic Hockey . March 16, 2022 . March 16, 2022.
  8. News: 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 . April 8, 2022.