‘I’m My Own Mentor’: Dennis Hildeby misses chance to guest on Maple Leafs mentor tour due to call timing

On January 8, 2025By Littum

Dennis Hildeby played a key role in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night, stopping 30 of 32 shots and earning a remarkable .938 save percentage. The victory marked the 23-year-old’s third career NHL victory in his fourth game of the 2024-25 season, improving his record to 3-1-0.

Hildeby’s performance was crucial as the Maple Leafs completed the first half of a home-and-home series with the Flyers while earning a gutsy victory.

The team’s road trip to Philadelphia on Tuesday officially launches the travel portion of their annual mentoring trip, a tradition that began in February of the 2019-20 season. Players invite mentors, such as parents, siblings, or influential people in their lives, to join them for a few days on the road.

Unfortunately for Hildeby, his late call on December 30 left him without enough time to arrange a guest. After the game on Sunday, Hildeby joked when asked about missing the chance to bring someone along.

“I am my own mentor,” he said, as Sportsnet’s Luke Fox confirmed.

The trip, as revealed by Maple Leafs YouTube channelstarted on Sunday, with several mentors already present. Notable guests included Joe Thornton, Auston Matthews’ guest; Brother of Matthew Knies; and Morgan Rielly’s older brother, who watched Rielly score the game-winning goal in overtime.

Despite missing the chance to bring in a mentor, the decision to recall Hildeby from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on Sunday proved a wise one. The Leafs, navigating another back-to-back, received a strong performance from their former fourth-round pick (122nd overall), showing the benefits of their timely call-up.

While his season stats include an .892 save percentage and a 3.23 goals-against average at the NHL level, his performance on Sunday shows why the Maple Leafs have chosen to turn to him in the number two goalie role with a busy schedule ahead.

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