Tue 29 Jul 2025 - 6:00PM
DEFENCEMAN JAROD HILDERMAN JOINS PANTHERS
Nottingham Panthers have signed six foot one defenceman Jarod Hilderman for the 2025-26 season.
The 28-year-old joins the club as a playoff champion after last season's success with French top-flight side Grenoble who beat Angers 4-1 across five matches in the final.
Last season's team-mates included former Panthers players Christophe Boivin and Kyle Hardy as Grenoble beat Angers - the French side led by Jonathan Paredes who coached Nottingham in 2023-24.
Hilderman is no stranger to playoff championship success and after winning with Penticton Vees in Canada as junior in 2015, the blueliner won back-to-back with the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2018 and 2019.
Before moving to Europe last year, Hilderman played over 150 games in the ECHL with Tulsa Oilers which included 44 points (9+35) in 65 regular-season matches in 2023-24.
The blueliner also had two AHL call-ups - with San Diego Gulls and Chicago Wolves - in the 2022-23 campaign.
Hilderman said: "I heard from a lot of my former team-mates and friends and they all had nothing but good things to say about Nottingham, the city, the rink, the facilities, the staff and everything they have built there.
"I think with my personality - and who I am as a person - hopefully I come in there and fit right in with the systems and the culture they have set-up there already."
Hilderman arrives in Nottingham not just on the back of his own success but, of course, joins the Panthers on the back of last season's playoff triumph over Cardiff Devils.
As a four-time playoff champion - across junior, college and professional - Hilderman discussed his views on what it takes for a team to be successful.
"Everyone that wins knows it's not something that just happens," continued Hilderman. "It requires a lot of work and a lot of stuff behind the scenes that a lot of people don't realise it's what it takes to be a championship team.
"I feel I have a pretty good picture of everything it takes. I want to help the team with my play on the ice and with leadership off the ice and in the locker room."
Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "Jarod is a big and strong defenceman that can contribute at both ends of the ice. He defends really well, he’s heavy in puck battles and puts his body on the line in lanes.
"We really liked his defensive game but on top of that, he can contribute at the other end as well. He’s got a very heavy shot that creates a lot of second puck opportunities if they don’t go in.
"He sees the ice well and is able to make good plays in transition out of the defensive zone and the neutral zone."
Signing news in association with GVL Recovery.
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