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Connor receives USA Hockey’s major award
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
The most accomplished of the Youngstown Phantoms has received another major honor.
Kyle Connor, who completed his third season in Youngstown by winning the USHL scoring championship, was named Thursday as USA Hockey’s recipient of the Dave Tyler Award, which is presented to the top American-born player in junior hockey.
This is the 19th consecutive year that a player from the USHL has earned the award.
“It’s a huge honor, and it is something that I am definitely excited about,” Connor said. “All the credit goes to the coaching staff and my teammates.
“I could not have done this without them. They really helped me grow and develop as a player and as a person this season.”
Previous Dave Tyler Award winners include San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski (2004), Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Lewis (2006) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry (2007).
Connor, who will play for the University of Michigan next fall, is projected to be a high first-round draft pick in next month’s NHL Draft.
“Kyle came to Youngstown three years ago as a 15-year-old young man who was eager to learn and grow,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen. said. “His hard work and commitment to himself and this organization helped mold him into a leader and the most impactful player we have ever had.
“We are all proud of Kyle, and excited to see what his future brings.”
Connor’s career year for the Phantoms included 34 goals and 46 assists in 56 games. With 80 points, he’s the first Phantom to lead the USHL in scoring in their six seasons.
“This year was as big of a year as any, and I really feel like I took that next step in my hockey career both on and off the ice,” Connor said.
Last October, Connor became the 18th USHL player to score 50 goals and just the third to do it before he turned 18.
Connor’s scoring touch helped the Phantoms to a 17-game winning streak down the stretch, a USHL record Noreen says won’t be broken any time soon. Twice, he recorded five-point games, including one on April 4 against the Muskegon Lumberjacks when he recorded his second career hat trick.
Connor leaves the Phantoms as the franchise leader in points (195) and goals (82).
“[Those numbers] speak volumes about his abailty to weather the storm,” Noreen said.
The four games he missed came when he was captaining a Team USA squad that took gold in December’s World Junior A Challenge in Kindersley, Saskatchewan.