Kyle Connor

Kyle Connor
Born	December 9, 1996 Clinton Township, MI, USA
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	177 lb (80 kg; 12 st 9 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Winnipeg Jets
National team	United States
NHL Draft	17th overall, 2015 Winnipeg Jets
Playing career	2016–present

Kyle Connor (born December 9, 1996) is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Connor was drafted 17th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

Connor joined the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL during the 2012–13 season. During the 2013–14 season, Connor recorded 31 goals and 43 assists, in 56 games, setting a Phantoms franchise record for most points in a season with 74 points. His outstanding play was recognized when he was named to the 2013–14 USHL First All-Star Team.^[1]

During the 2014–15 season, Connor led the league in scoring, recording 34 goals and 46 assists, in 56 regular season games. He broke the Phantoms' franchise record for points in a season, with 80 points. He led the USHL with nine game-winning goals. Following an outstanding season, he was named to the 2014–15 USHL First All-Star Team, and was also named the USHL Forward of the Year and Player of the Year.^[2]

College

He is committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines for the 2015–16 season.^[3][4] Connor was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending October 20, 2015. In the season opener on October 16, Connor recorded two goals and an assist in his debut, the most points by a Michigan freshman in his debut since Jason Ryznar had three points (one goal and two assists) in his debut in the Cold War at Spartan Stadium on October 6, 2001. On October 18, he scored the game-winning goal against Mercyhurst.^[5]

Connor was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending December 15, 2015. He recorded five goals and one assist in a split weekend series against Minnesota. On December 11, Connor recorded his first career hat-trick, becoming the first Michigan freshman to record a hat-trick in a game since Michael Woodford in 2001.^[6][7] Connor was named to the GLI-all-tournament team, and was named MVP at the 2015 Great Lakes Invitational.^[8]

Connor was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Month for December 2015. Connor led the nation with seven goals and 13 points in six games during the month of December, averaging 2.17 points per game in that span. He registered at least one point in all six games, including four multi-point efforts. His overall average of 1.47 points per game this season is the most by a Michigan freshman since the 1979–80 season.^[9]

Connor was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week for the week ending January 12, 2016. During that time he recorded three goals and three assists, including a career-best five-points on January 8, against Michigan State.^[10] Connor was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week for the week ending February 2, 2016. During that time he recorded two goals and four assists in two games against Penn State. On January 28, Connor matched a career-high with five points, including the game-winning goal. By reaching 20 goals in 22 games, he and teammate Tyler Motte were the fastest Michigan players to reach 20 goals since Kevin Porter had 20 goals in 21 games during the 2007–08 season. Connor became the first Michigan freshman to score 20 goals since Jeff Tambellini scored 26 goals during the 2002–03 season.^[11]

Connor was named the HCA National Rookie of the Month for the month of January, 2016. He ranked second nationally with 1.33 goals, 1.50 assists and 2.83 points per game last month, trailing only linemates Motte in goals and points and J. T. Compher in assists.^[12] Connor was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending February 23, 2016. He joined Tyler Motte as the only players in the Big Ten to earn First Star of the Week honors three times this season. Connor is the fifth Michigan freshman ever to reach the 50-point mark, and the first since current assistant coach Brian Wiseman reached the mark in 1990–91.^[13]

Connor was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week for the week ending March 1, 2016. Connor is in the midst of a 23-game point streak, the longest by a Michigan player since Mike Knuble had points in 21 straight games during the 1994–95 season.^[14] He is the first Michigan player to reach 60 points since Kevin Porter recorded 63 points in 2007–08, and the first Michigan freshman to reach the 30-goal mark since Danny Felsner had 30 goals in 1988–89. Connor is also the first freshman in college hockey to record 30 goals since Thomas Vanek in 2002–03. Connor was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for the week ending March 15. Connor extended his Red Berenson-era (since 1984) Michigan record point streak to 23 games with four goals in two wins against Penn State.^[15]

Following an outstanding freshman season with the Wolverines, Connor was named the Big Ten Conference ice hockey Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He was also named to both the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten First Team. He was also Big Ten Scoring Champion, recording 30 goals, and 31 assists in 34 games.^[16] He was also named the NCAA Ice Hockey National Rookie of the Year and an AHCA First Team All-American.^[17] Connor was runner-up for the Hobey Baker Award, losing to Jimmy Vesey.^[18][19]

During the quarterfinals of the 2016 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, Connor scored four goals, breaking the record for most goals in a single Big Ten Tournament game. Connor became the first Michigan player to score four goals in a game since Kevin Porter on March 28, 2008.^[20][21] During the championship game, Connor and teammate Zach Werenski tied the record for most assists in the Big Ten tournament championship game with three assists. Connor and Werenski also tied the record for most points in a championship game with four points. Connor holds the record for most goals in a single Big Ten tournament with five goals, while Connor and teammate J. T. Compher are tied for the most points in a single Big Ten tournament with eight points. He was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player and named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.^[22][23][24]

Professional

On April 11, 2016, Connor signed a three-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets.^[25][26]

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
	2013 Piešťany
World Junior A Challenge
	2013 Yarmouth
	2014 Kindersley
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2014 Finland

Connor represented the United States at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, where he recorded two goals and three assists in four games and won a gold medal. Connor scored the game-winning goal in the championship game against Russia.^[27][28] Connor again represented the United States at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge where he recorded one goal and one assist in four games, and won a gold medal.^[29]

Connor represented the United States at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded four goals and three assists in seven games, and won a gold medal.

Connor represented the United States at the 2016 IIHF World Championship alongside line-mates J. T. Compher and Tyler Motte. He recorded two assists in five games.^[30]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012–13	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL		62	17	24	41	16		9	0	3	3	0
2013–14	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL		56	31	43	74	12		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL		56	34	46	80	6		4	3	1	4	0
2015–16	University of Michigan	B1G		38	35	36	71	6		—	—	—	—	—
NCAA totals				38	35	36	71	6		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	United States	IH18			5	2	1	3	2
2014	United States	U18			7	4	3	7	0
2016	United States	WC	4th		5	0	2	2	0
Junior totals					12	6	4	10	2
Senior totals					5	0	2	2	0

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
USHL
USHL First All-Star Team	2014	[31]
USHL First All-Star Team	2015	[32]
USHL Player of the Year	2015	[33]
USHL Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award	2015	[34]
College
HCA Rookie of the Month	December, 2015	[9]
HCA Rookie of the Month	January, 2016	[12]
All-Big Ten First Team	2016	[16]
All-Big Ten Freshman Team	2016
Big Ten Freshman of the Year	2016
Big Ten Player of the Year	2016
Big Ten Scoring Champion	2016
AHCA West First-Team All-American	2016	[17]
NCAA National Rookie of the Year	2016	[35]
Hobey Baker Award Finalist	2016	[36]
Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player	2016	[22]
Big Ten All-Tournament Team	2016

References

1. "Kyle Connor named First Team USHL All-Star". Youngstown Phantoms. April 1, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
2. "Connor named USHL Player of the Year". United States Hockey League. May 2, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
3. "Werenski, Incoming Freshman Connor Selected in 2015 NHL Draft". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
4. "Freshman Focus with Kyle Connor". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
5. "Connor, Selman Named Big Ten First and Third Stars of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 20, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
6. "Connor's Hat Trick Leads U-M to Romp over Minnesota". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
7. "Connor Named Big Ten First Star of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
8. "Wolverines Ice Huskies for Record 17th Great Lakes Invitational Title". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 30, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
9. "Connor Named HCA National Rookie of the Month for December". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. January 6, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
10. "Compher, Connor Named Big Ten's Top Performers of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
11. "Motte, Connor Tabbed Big Ten First and Second Stars". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
12. "Motte, Connor Named HCA National Player and Rookie of the Month". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
13. "Connor Tabbed Big Ten First Star of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
14. "Connor Named Big Ten Second Star of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
15. "Connor, Selman Receive Big Ten Weekly Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
16. "Connor, Berenson Head List of All-Big Ten Award Winners". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
17. "Four Icers Earn All-America Honors; Connor Named Top Rookie". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
18. "Compher, Connor, Motte Named Top 10 Finalists for Hobey Baker Award". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
19. Wenzel, Matt (April 8, 2016). "Michigan's Kyle Connor named runner-up for Hobey Baker Award". MLive. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
20. "Connor Scores Four to Lead U-M to B1G Championship Game". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
21. "2016 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Game 3 Notes" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
22. "2016 All-Tournament Team" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
23. "2016 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Game 5 Notes" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
24. "Michigan Rallies Past Minnesota to Win B1G Tournament". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
25. "Jets sign Kyle Connor". Winnipeg Jets. April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
26. "Connor Signs Professional Contract with NHL's Winnipeg Jets". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
27. "USA Wins World Junior A Challenge; Tops Russia, 4-1, in Final". USA Hockey. November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
28. "Connor Scored Winner, U.S. Wins Fifth Gold Medal at WJAC". Hockey Canada. November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
29. "USHL Players to Represent United States at World Junior A Challenge". USHL. November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
30. "'C-C-M Line' Named to USA Hockey World Championship Roster". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
31. "Kyle Connor, Matt Iacopelli named to USHL first team list". mihockeynow.com. May 1, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
32. "USHL announces All-Star Teams". United States Hockey League. May 1, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
33. "Conner selected as USHL's Player of the Year". USA Hockey. April 23, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
34. "Connor Receives USA Hockey's Top Junior Honor". Youngstown Phantoms. May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
35. "Michigan's Connor Gets Tim Taylor Award As Nation's Top Rookie". USA Hockey. April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
36. "2016 Hobey Hat Trick Announced". Hobey Baker Award. March 31, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.

External links

• Kyle Connor's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
  
• Kyle Connor's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database