MTU’s Conner back playing in NHL

Courtesy of MTU Athletics

PHOENIX — Former Michigan Tech hockey player Chris Conner (Westland, Mich.) has played three games with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes after being called up last Wednesday (April 3) from their AHL affiliate Portland Pirates. Conner, who played at Tech from 2002-06, is with his fourth different NHL team since joining the professional ranks in 2006.

A veteran of 60 games in the AHL this season, Conner amassed 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 total points with Portland. He made his Coyotes debut April 4 with a home game vs. the Detroit Red Wings and scored the go-ahead goal in an eventual 4-2 victory. Conner also played in a 4-0 win vs. Colorado and a 2-0 loss at Vancouver.

Conner was with the Detroit Red Wings a year ago where he played in eight games. The 5-8, 180-pound wing played his first 71 NHL games with the Dallas Stars from 2006-09, posting 7-14=21. He then went on to a two-year stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he registered 9-10=19 in 68 games.

For his NHL career, Conner has played in 150 games with 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 total points.