Tyler Bilton

Tyler Bilton (born August 16, 1983 in Nanaimo, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.

Raised in Penticton, British Columbia, he graduated from Penticton Secondary School in 2001 but also attended the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Wilcox, Saskatchewan) from 1998-1999 where he helped his team win the Bantam ‘AAA’ South Saskatchewan Hockey League Championship.

Tyler has an extensive Canadian Junior and collegiate career. His junior career included stops with the Penticton Panthers, Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves, Osoyoos Heat, Revelstoke Grizzlies, North Okanagan Kings, Grand Forks Border Bruins, Columbia Valley Rockies and Summerland Sting. He was also protected by the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL and was with them for remainder of the 1999-2000 season and playoffs.

For his freshmen year of college, Tyler attended the NCAA Division III school Finlandia University (Hancock, Michigan, USA). After his freshmen year he transferred to St. Clair College (Windsor,ON,Canada) which is an independent school that played a mixed schedule against CIS, NCAA, and ACHA schools. After suffering an injury in his junior year, he red shirted the season and transferred to Saint Michael’s College (Colchester, Vermont, USA) for his junior and senior year of his NCAA career. While at Saint Michael's College Tyler helped the team to two consecutive Northeast Ten Conference ice hockey championships. He set five school records at Saint Michael’s College; highest save percentage in a season and career, most saves in a season, average most saves per game and career.

Following graduation from Saint Michael’s College in 2009, Tyler signed his first professional ice hockey contract with the sports club Başkent Yıldızları of the Turkish Ice Hockey Super League. Due to transfer card problems Tyler missed the first two games of the season but started every game for the rest of the season and finished the season undefeated (7 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie) helping his team finish the regular season tied for first. In the playoffs he helped his club make it to their first ever championship appearance but came up short losing to Ankara University Sports Club.

Awards

• 2003–04: Goaltender of the Year (KIJHL, Eddie Mountain Division)
• 2003–04: All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (KIJHL)
• 2003–04: Team MVP (Columbia Valley Rockies, KIJHL)
• 2007–08: Championship Most Valuable Player (Northeast Ten Conference)
• 2007–08: Co-Defensive Player of the Year (Saint Michael's College)
• 2008–09: Goaltender of the Year (Northeast Ten Conference)
• 2008–09: Championship Most Valuable Player (Northeast Ten Conference)
• 2008–09: 1st All-Conference Team (Northeast Ten Conference)
• 2008–09: All-Championship Team (Northeast Ten Conference)
• 2008–09: Team MVP (Saint Michael's College)
• 2009–10: Goaltender of the Year (Turkish Ice Hockey Super League)
• 2009–10: League Most Valuable Player (Turkish Ice Hockey Super League)
• 2009–10: All-Star (Turkish Ice Hockey Super League)

Interesting Facts

• Notable ex-teammates: Duncan Keith, Chuck Kobasew, and Justin Pogge.
• Selected to try out for Team Canada-Pacific for the 1999 World U-17 Hockey Challenge but David LeNeveu was selected for the team.
• Tyler and his Saint Michael’s College ice hockey team is featured on FSN The Best [...] Sports Show Period Top 50 Bloopers 2 episode. The team is featured on number 37 of the Top 50 and you can see Tyler celebrating with his team (goalie wearing number ‘30’).