| Cameron Hillis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (2000-06-24)June 24, 2000 (age 25) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| Liiga team Former teams | Kiekko-Espoo Montreal Canadiens | ||
| NHL draft | 66th overall,2018 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Cameron Hillis (born June 24, 2000) is a Canadian professionalice hockeyforward forKiekko-Espoo in theLiiga. He was selected in the third round, 66th overall, by theMontreal Canadiens in the2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Hillis played Canadian High School hockey withSt. Andrew's College and also featured in the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association league. He was selected 28th overall in the 2016Priority Selection Draft by theGuelph Storm and was later committed to join themajor junior club for the2017–18 season.[1]
In his rookie season with the Storm, Hillis lead the league in assists among rookies with 39 and added 20 goals to finish with 59 points through 60 games to earn a selection to the OHL First All-Rookie Team. He was later selected in the third-round, 66th overall, by theMontreal Canadiens in the2018 NHL Entry Draft.[2]
Following a successful three season junior career with the Storm, claiming the OHL championship in the2018–19 season, Hillis was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on May 13, 2020.[3]
In turning pro, Hillis appeared in the pandemic shortened2020–21 season with the CanadiensAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, theLaval Rocket. He was limited to just 18 games, registering a goal.
In the following2021–22 season, Hillis began the season assigned to the Canadiens secondary affiliate, theTrois-Rivières Lions in theECHL, before continuing his tenure with the Laval Rocket in the AHL. On December 27, 2021, with the Canadiens suffering a spate of injury and covid-related absences, Hillis was added to the taxi squad. He made his NHL debut with the Canadiens on January 1, 2022, featuring on the fourth-line in a 5–2 defeat against theFlorida Panthers.[4] After his solitary game with Montreal, he was later returned to the minor leagues for the remainder of the campaign.[5]
Entering the final season of his entry-level contract, Hillis for a second consecutive year was assigned to begin the2022–23 season in the ECHL with the Trois-Rivières Lions. Hillis contributed with 2 goals in 3 games with the Lions before he was traded by the Canadiens to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange forNicolas Beaudin on October 26, 2022. He was immediately reassigned by the Blackhawks to join AHL affiliate, theRockford Icehogs.[6]
Leaving the Blackhawks at the conclusion of his contract, Hillis remained un-signed over the summer. On August 29, 2023, he was signed to a professional tryout contract to attend the 2023 training camp of the Detroit Red Wings.[7] At the completion of training camp, Hillis was among the first cuts and was released from his tryout with the Red Wings on September 25, 2023.[8]
Following his fourth North American professional season, Hillis opted to pursue a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract withFinnish club, Kiekko-Espoo of theLiiga, on July 30, 2024.[9]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2015–16 | St. Andrew's College | CAHS | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | St. Andrew's College | CAHS | 58 | 28 | 49 | 77 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 60 | 20 | 39 | 59 | 48 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 33 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 62 | 24 | 59 | 83 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Trois-Rivières Lions | ECHL | 14 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 24 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Trois-Rivières Lions | ECHL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Indy Fuel | ECHL | 45 | 14 | 36 | 50 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 18 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Indy Fuel | ECHL | 54 | 18 | 43 | 61 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Canada Red | U17 | 6th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2018 | Canada | U18 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
| Junior totals | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| OHL | ||
| First All-Rookie Team | 2018 | |
| J. Ross Robertson Cup (Guelph Storm) | 2019 | |