Matt O'Connor (ice hockey)

Matthew Harrison O'Connor (born February 14, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Rødovre Mighty Bulls in the Metal Ligaen (DEN). He has formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Ottawa Senators. O'Connor achieved his greatest notoriety in the 2015 NCAA championship game when he accidentally dropped the puck between his legs and into the net, eventually leading his team to a loss.[1]

Matt O'Connor
Born (1992-02-14) February 14, 1992
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
Metal team
Former teams		 Rødovre Mighty Bulls
Ottawa Senators
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2015–present

Playing career

Amateur

O'Connor went undrafted in both OHL and NHL drafts and, after spending two seasons in the OJHL, decided to play in the United States Hockey League.[2] After spending two seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms O'Connor was offered a full scholarship to Boston University. The Terriers won the Hockey East championship in 2014–15 and O'Connor was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team.[3]

Professional

Over the course of three years with the Terriers O'Connor had garnered the attention of multiple NHL teams.[4] O'Connor chose to forego his senior year at Boston University and signed a two-year contract with the Ottawa Senators in May 2015.[5] He was expected to start the season with the Binghamton Senators minor league team but after an injury to Ottawa goalie Andrew Hammond, O'Connor stayed with the team and made his NHL debut on October 11, 2015 in a 3-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens.[6][7]

It was announced by the Senators that O'Connor would not receive a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, thus making him a free agent on June 26, 2017. On July 1, 2017, O'Connor agreed to a one-year, two-way $650, 000 contract with the Nashville Predators.[8]

After spending his first four professional seasons in North America, playing extensively in the minor leagues, O'Connor embarked on a European career as a free agent, agreeing to a one-year contract with Danish club, Rødovre Mighty Bulls of the Metal Ligaen, on July 17, 2019.[9]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2008–09Upper Canada Hockey ClubOJHL 273191142714716.18.878 ————————
2009–10Upper Canada PatriotsOJHL 23712213258914.03.904 ————————
2009–10Burlington CougarsOJHL 52202371804.55.895 ————————
2010–11Youngstown PhantomsUSHL 291016217139803.43.886 ————————
2011–12Youngstown PhantomsUSHL 5028165171314613.04.902 6333262003.68.859
2012–13Boston UniversityHE 1988211105302.86.910 ————————
2013–14Boston UniversityHE 2279412245902.89.920 ————————
2014–15Boston UniversityHE 35254420887612.18.927 ————————
2015–16Binghamton SenatorsAHL 3410203192110603.31.895 ————————
2015–16Ottawa SenatorsNHL 101059303.10.912 ————————
2016–17Binghamton SenatorsAHL 3714181206411103.23.895 ————————
2016–17Wichita ThunderECHL 202090704.63.875 ————————
2017–18Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL 2020117703.58.891 ————————
2017–18Atlanta GladiatorsECHL 40402321403.62.894 ————————
2017–18Quad City MallardsECHL 60423402905.12.853 ————————
2017–18Manchester MonarchsECHL 2200123703.42.904 ————————
2017–18Wheeling NailersECHL 40122161203.33.892 ————————
2018–19Wheeling NailersECHL 24117413146723.06.905 ————————
2018–19Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL 210080302.26.930 ————————
NHL totals 1 0 1 0 59 3 0 3.10 .912 — — — — — — — —

References
  1. "2015 NCAA Frozen Four - the "CRAZY" Final 12 Minutes of the Ice Hockey National Championship Game". YouTube. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  2. "A tale of two NCAA prospects". The Sports Network. March 30, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  3. "Matt O'Connor". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  4. "BU Goalie O'Connor to meet with NHL clubs". The Sports Network. April 14, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  5. "Senators sign NCAA goalie Matt O'Connor". National Hockey League. May 9, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  6. "Battle of the rookies: Sens' Matt O'Connor starts vs. Michael Condon". Ottawa Sun. October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  7. "Canadiens top Senators, Mike Condon picks up 1st career win". CBC.ca. October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  8. "Predators add O'Connor with one-year contract". Nashville Predators. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  9. "Canadian O'Connor completes Goaltender duo" (in Danish). Rødovre Mighty Bulls. July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
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