Former University of Massachusetts hockey forward Kenny Connors is set to make his National Hockey League debut with the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, facing off against the Colorado Avalanche. Connors becomes the 28th player from UMass to reach the NHL and the 13th during Greg Carvel’s tenure as head coach.
Connors agreed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Kings in April last year. He was selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round, 103rd overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft.
During his time at UMass, Connors accumulated 77 points across 109 games, scoring 26 goals and recording 51 assists over three seasons. He achieved a +2 rating, contributed five power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, and nine game-winning goals. His total of nine game winners places him second all-time for career game-winning goals in program history. In his freshman year (2022-23), Connors was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
In the 2024-25 season, Connors set personal bests with ten goals, nineteen assists, and twenty-nine points in forty games. He also recorded a +4 rating with two power-play goals and four game-winning tallies.
While playing for Ontario Reign this season, Connors has posted twenty-nine points on nine goals and twenty assists over forty-nine games.
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