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***luke*** · 02-10-2024, 07:09 AM

Kata Vilde

@BarnabasCollins

A regular in net for the Calgary Dragons for most of the S40’s, all of the S50’s and then the beginning of S60’s. No one has played more games in net for the Dragons than Vilde. A legend of the city, and a very deserving choice for the top 75 of all time. Drafted in S41, with the 14th pick the Dragons drafted Vilde. Expecting to replace their goalie Richard C. Hocolate, Vilde first started in the SHL in S44.
Splitting the net in a 1A, 1B with Hocolate, Vilde played 33 games. Going 17-13-3 with 1 shutout and a .915 SV%. Vilde was nominated for the Jesster and got onto the Rookie All Star Team. S45 saw the growing struggles of being in the league. Starting 41 GP, VIlde struggled. Going 17-22-2 with 3 shutouts and a .903. He was adapting to the league.

S46 though, Vilde would quickly bounce back to a very solid form. First time playing the “normal” starting goalie role. With 50 games played, a backup would play a minimum of 6 games. So that meant that the starter of the team would play the other 44. So with that, Vilde would play his first 44 game season for the Dragons. In that season, Vilde went 22-18-4, with 2 shutouts and posting a great .913 SV%. Earning him his first John McBride Nomination of his career. As well as 3rd All Star.

S47 would be an even better showing for Vilde. Going 24-14-6, with 1 shutout and a .912 SV%. Vilde again got another McBride nomination, and another 3rd All Star Team. One of the best goalies in the league in back to back seasons. S48 would prove to be a dropoff though. Going 21-17-6 with 0 shutout and a .906 SV%. Just another bump in the road for Vilde’s amazing career.

S49 would be Vilde’s best season to date. With a career high 31 wins, only 10 losses and 3 OTL. in addition to 3 shutouts and a .916 SV%. Vilde once again got nominated for his 3rd John McBirde award, although not winning. He got his first 2nd All Star Roster too. The Dragons were on a roll, and Vilde was one of the backbones behind it.

In S50, the regular season was fine for Vilde. 23-18-3 with 2 shutouts and a .904 SV%. However, the most impressive part of that season comes in the playoffs. In the Wild Card game, the Calgary Dragons beat the Los Angeles Panthers in 5 games. Sweeping both the San Francisco Pride in the 2nd round and the New Orleans Specters in the Conference Finals. Calgary faced off against the Tampa Bay Barracuda in the finals. Down 3-0 in the series. The 4th game of the series saw Vilde stop 33/34 stops for the Dragons, as they won 2-1. Keeping them in the series. Game 5 saw Vilde stop 40/41 shots as the Dragons won again 2-1. Making the series 3-2. Keeping them in the series, the backs to the wall, Vilde held strong. Game 6 again saw Vilde stop 18/19 stops. Only keeping the Barracuda to 3 goals in 94 shots against, A 96.8 SV% over the past 3 games. Taking the series to game 7, going for the reverse sweep. Game 7 saw the Calgary Dragons complete that reverse sweep. With Vilde stopping 26/29 shots. As the Dragons won 4-3 in game 7. Winning the Challenge Cup for the first time. Vilde also received a nomination for the Anton Razov.

Following that amazing performance in the finals, in S51 Vilde went 25-17-2 with 3 shutouts and a .914 SV%. Earning him his 4th McBride Nomination, and another 2nd All Star Team. S52 would be the final season in STHS for Vilde and the league. Going 20-20-4 with a .89 SV%, he would prefer to leave after a subpar performance.

In STHS Vilde went 338 GP, 200 wins, 149 losses, 33 OTL, and 15 shutouts. Lets see what FHM brings.

Entering regression as the league Transitioned to FHM. Vilde will be fighting against the clock. S53 saw Vilde have a good season. 27-14-2 with 4 shutouts. A .901 SV%. S54 was 21-19-4 with 2 shutouts with a .89 SV%. Clearly decent, but struggling overall. Also did not help that Dragons were struggling as well. STill a good team, but not one of the premier teams in the west..
S55 saw a drastic improvement though. 26 wins, 13 losses, 5 OTL with 4 shutouts. Most importantly though, Vilde’s SV% increased to a .914 SV%. S56 saw Vilde’s best season wins wise. Going 34-6-4 with a career high 9 shutouts. And a career high .936 SV%. It was the final big season from Vilde. From that, Vilde won the Mike Honcho award for least amount of goals allowed that season, and a 1st All Star Team. Nominated for the 5th and final time, Vilde would not win the McBride award for his career.

S56-S59 would be the final couple seasons of Vilde being a true starter of the Dragons. All putting up good seasons. Going 29-17-2, 29-17-3, and then 24-15-3. Vilde provided a strong performance for the Dragons, as he usually did. S60, though, saw Vilde only play 39 games. Putting a great season of 23-11-4 with 4 shutouts and a .922 SV%. Good for his final achievement, a 3rd All Star Team. Like Vilde was with Richard C. Chocolate, Cale Amundsen was there to replace Vilde in net. S60 would be the final season Vilde would play the majority of games. With 61 being the last season of his career. Going 8-7-2. Vilde would retire that offseason.

Playing 758 games, winning 421 games, Vilde would be ranked 2nd among all time wins for goalies when he retired. A career SV% of .910, Vilde also led all goalies in shutouts with 54. Just squeaking by Jakub Aittokallio with 53. 5 McBride Nominations, it's a shame he never won one, but that's the way she goes. A great goalie in his own right, a massive performance in S50 to win himself a Cup, Vilde deserves to be 57 on this list.

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