Kenny Connors is enjoying a tremendous start to his rookie campaign with the Ontario Reign. Connors, 22, has accumulated four goals and 11 points in 19 games. He also has a +13 rating, which leads all Reign skaters and rookie skaters in the AHL.
If you really want to dig deep into the numbers, Connors has been on the ice for a total of 18 goals for and six against, 13 goals for and four against at five-on-five, and only two goals against on the penalty kill.
The numbers are nice. They just aren’t something Connors is focusing on as he begins his professional career.
“I try not to put any expectations on anything, especially the results,” Connors said. “I just try to come in every day and play as hard as I can to help the team win.”
And help the team he has.
Connors has primarily been Ontario’s third-line center and has been used in every situation. When Andrew Lord assumed head coaching duties, he didn’t know much about Connors. He had to rely on the assessments of others in the organization to get a better understanding of who he is as a player and everything that came back was positive.
“From my perspective, I didn’t know him very well beforehand when I took the job,” Lord said. “I did my homework when I took the job and everything was good. The character and what management and scouts said about him, everyone was excited. He’s been awesome. One of our most consistent players on both sides of the puck. His details are phenomenal.”
Going from the collegiate level to the professional rankings is a challenge every prospect faces, whether it be in the AHL or NHL.
Connors knows it too, citing the execution, pace, and the number of games being played compared to the amount he played at the University of Massachusetts. Even early on, just a handful of games into his professional career, he’s seen a difference around him.
“The biggest difference I noticed is the execution, especially on playmaking,” he detailed. “The execution level is definitely higher. It’s been an adjustment, but I’ve enjoyed it a lot. The challenge every day has been fun.”
Going through the hoops and hurdles of being a professional hockey player hasn’t stopped Connors one bit.
In fact, Connors keeps on climbing up the trust ladder of the coaching staff, and it’s been noticeable in certain situations when being deployed.
He’s been trusted on special teams. In Ontario’s last two home games, when they have protected a one-goal lead late in the game, Connors was on the ice, showing the trust he has earned from the coaching staff. He’s also been used in offensive situations, with the team looking for goals. Connors has that little bit of everything in his game and it’s something that’s helped him to earn minutes in a variety of ways early in his professional career.
When asked about it after Ontario’s recent 4-3 win over the Henderson Silver Knights, Lord noted the small details in his game that he is good at to be used in a situation like that.
“He sees the ice well on both sides of the puck. He’s really good on faceoffs and down low in the defensive zone, willing to block shots, and has great stick detail,” Lord said.
Ken he do it? YES, HE KEN!#ReignTrain I #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/FKnK0CiAFW
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2025
It’s a great step in the right direction for a player’s development, one that Connors knows is critical when it comes to earning the trust of the coaching staff.
Whether it be playing well on both sides of the puck, the power play – a role he has seen for the last two weeks – the penalty kill, blocking a shot, winning faceoffs, winning a board battle, or the little things that won’t show up on the box score.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to win each night. Whatever the coaches are asking of me, I’m going to do my best to follow that through,” Connors stated.
Even with the great start, Connors know there are always areas to improve on.
As a young center, learning the art of the draw is important. It’s a growing process for just about every center at this level and that process only gets harder once you get to the NHL. Having a development coach like Jarret Stoll has been important for Connors, who helps him work on that area of his game. Just one of the smaller details that can eventually help him take the next step.
“I work with Stolly the most day in and day out on faceoffs,” he mentioned. “A lot of my game I want to improve on. I want to keep getting comfortable, in this league by playing and attacking a little bit more. I also want to be a little bit better with my details, especially in the defensive zone and through transition as well.”
So far, his role has been simple, but one of his biggest assets has been his penalty killing. He’s often been paired on the ice with his roommate, Jared Wright.
That was perhaps the biggest role Connors had earlier in the season. Now, he starts mostly every period playing against the oppositions best lines and he’s provided offense while doing so. Still, that started with a lot of penalty killing and as the trust grew in those situations, it’s translated to 5-on-5 play.
“That was one of the biggest things he started with, roll-wise, was the penalty kill,” Lord said of Connors. “Him and Jared Wright do a really good job. He is one step ahead at all times, and I think that is a huge reason of him gaining more ice time.”
Connors’ play has certainly caught the eye of some in the organization. Although his play has been quite impressive through the team’s first 19 games, the rookie isn’t too focused on playing NHL games this season.
“I have no expectations of anything, honestly,” said Connors on if he expects to get a call up to the Kings this year. “I’m just trying to come in, day in and day out, and do the best I can.”
It’s the right approach. Focusing on things outside of his control won’t help him in the long run. By focusing on what he can control, he’ll put himself in a better position anyways to achieve that potential reward in the future.
Although playing NHL games may not be at the front of his mindset, Lord hinted that if any injuries or call-ups happen to the Reign roster, there is a possibility for him to get more minutes.
“We’ll see. If there are injuries or call-ups that happen for him to get more ice time, for sure,” Lord said.
Not a bad place for a rookie forward to be, as he continues to impress in the early goings.
