Center Township resident Jake Hildebrand is hoping to step up to the American Hockey League this season as he continues his goaltending career.

Years ago, Jake Hildebrand and Will King were teammates as goaltenders for the North Pittsburgh Wildcats.

They are back home these days after many hockey travels — Hildebrand to Iowa, Michigan and Texas, King to Canada and Sweden — looking for their next professional destination on ice.

Hildebrand, 24, of Center Township has skated with King, 23, of Valencia, a few times this summer at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry Township.

The 6-foot-3 King spent the past two years playing professional hockey in Sweden. He sported an 8-6-2 record and 2.60 goals-against average two seasons ago for KRIF and moved to a higher-tier league last season.

Since King returned to the U.S., he's taken part in a tryout with the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League and has been invited back to their preseason camp.

Hildebrand helped lead the Allen (Texas) Americans to the ECHL's version of the Stanley Cup — the Kelly Cup — two years ago. Last season, he played in 47 games for the ECHL's Indy Fuel, compiling an 18-21-2 record and a 3.75 GAA with four shutouts.

Hildebrand has a tryout in two weeks with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate. He already has a deal in place to play for the Tulsa (Okla.) Oilers in the ECHL this year.

King said it's all about patience at this point.

“The season doesn't start until mid-October, so we have time,” he said.”I know I'll be playing someplace.”

A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.