Freshman Focus with Kyle Connor
9/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Sept. 11, 2015
Each Friday, MGoBlue.com will profile one of six freshmen leading up to the Michigan ice hockey exhibition opener on Oct. 4 against the University of Toronto at Yost Ice Arena. Today's (Friday, Sept. 11) installment of Michigan Hockey Freshman Focus features Kyle Connor. A native of Shelby Township, Michigan, Connor became the 20th player in program history selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on June 26, when he was selected 17th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
A fast winger, Connor finished a prolific third season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL), leading the league in scoring with 80 points (34g, 46a) over 56 regular-season games, breaking a record for points in a season by a Phantoms player that he set in 2013-14 (74). Connor led the USHL with nine game-winning goals. For his efforts, Connor was named both the 2014-15 USHL Player of the Year and 2014-15 USHL Forward of the Year. Connor played in the Belle Tire Midget Minor program, where he was teammates with Zach Werenski and former Wolverine Dylan Larkin in 2011-12.
Previous Team: Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Position: Forward
Stats (2014-15): 80 points (34G, 46A) in 56 games
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 177 lbs
Hometown: Shelby Township, Mich.
School Enrolled In: College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts
Q. Why did you choose Michigan?
A. I chose Michigan because I felt it was the best mix for both hockey and school.
Q. What is your first memory of coming to Yost Ice Arena?
A. My earliest memory of coming to Yost was watching Carl Hagelin score a hat trick in his second game at Michigan (5-1 win over Western Ontario on Oct. 7, 2007).
Q. When did you start playing the game of hockey, and what got you hooked
A. I started playing hockey when I was five years old. I fell in love with the game from the first time I was on skates.
Q. Who is your favorite current or former Michigan athlete?
A. Carl Hagelin
Q. Which NHL player(s) do you model your game after?
A. Matt Duchene
Q. What is your favorite activity outside of hockey?
A. Golf
• Previous Athlete: Cooper Marody
