Ontario Reign Player Review: Kenny Connors

With the Ontario Reign season over, we will begin our player reviews for the 2025-26 season. Up first: Kenny Connors!

*Note: These player reviews will be for players who played at least five games with the Reign and finished the season with the team*

Season stats

Game: 65

Goals: 15

Assists: 26

Points: 41

+/- rating: +18

Penalty minutes: 30

Season review

To say Kenny Connors’ rookie season would be an understatement; it was a TERRIFIC one. Connors, 23, served primarily as Ontario’s third-line center and was deployed in every situation you could imagine. He saw time on the second power-play unit, was one half of the formidable duo with fellow rookie Jared Wright on the penalty kill, protecting a late lead in the final two minutes, and almost everything else.

It was clear from the first week of the season that he had already gained the trust of the coaching staff, who were very pleased with his development as the year progressed. First-year Head Coach went as far as to call him “Mr. Consistent” two weeks into the season.

As the Kings were hit with the injury bug, Connors was called up on two separate occasions. The first time, he didn’t suit up for a game, but the second time, he did and played in two games.

In 65 games, Connors ranked first in assists and points, and second in goals and plus-minus among Reign rookie skaters. His most notable performance was his Gordie Howe hat trick against the Bakersfield Condors on November 21st, 2025, in a 3-2 Reign victory.

The Kings have a dilemma at the center position this offseason. They need to find a first, second, and third-line center. Quinton Byfield is more than likely going to fill one of those gaps at 1C or 2C, but it still leaves a hole there and at 3C.  According to a report from Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period, the Kings and third-line center Scott Laughton have begun talks about an extension this week.

Here is where Connors comes in.

The free agent pool of centers is razor-thin, and with Charlie Coyle receiving a 6×6 (six years at six million per year) deal, that may have set the market to where Laughton could cash in. No doubt Laughton was a good fit as a 3C for the King post-trade deadline, but if the price tag is high, Connors has earned himself at least consideration for that 3C spot on a cheaper entry-level contract.

Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign

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