Perseverance has paid off for Loomis Chaffee senior Reilly Connors. On Wednesday, the 2000-born forward from Madison, Conn., announced his verbal commitment to play college hockey at Yale University. Connors wasn't much of an offensive producer in his first two seasons playing prep hockey for the Pelicans. He registered just two goals and five assists...
Perseverance has paid off for Loomis Chaffee senior Reilly Connors.
On Wednesday, the 2000-born forward from Madison, Conn., announced his verbal commitment to play college hockey at Yale University.
Connors wasn't much of an offensive producer in his first two seasons playing prep hockey for the Pelicans. He registered just two goals and five assists in 26 games as a junior in 2017-18.
“Reilly Connors was a late bloomer who stuck to the process and watched a lot of his peers commit at an early age," said Loomis assistant coach Steve Novodor, who's also program director for Yale Midget Hockey. "He never got discouraged. He just kept working on his game to get to where he is today."
Connors went to work this summer to improve his skill set, which put him in the position to earn a commitment from Yale.
“This summer, he trained really hard off ice and on ice," Novodor said. "He is a great kid and competes every shift like it is his last. He has developed more of a scoring touch and playmaking ability. He really focused on his mindset and his strengths, which I believe put him in a great spot this fall."
Even before Connors began scoring more this fall, his best attributes have always been his high compete level and energy that he brings to the lineup.
“He is a physical player who is not afraid to sacrifice his body for the guy next to him," Novodor said. "He has that team first mentality."
The path to playing college hockey for Connors was not a typical one, especially in this day and age. After playing on Yale 16U in 2016-17, he was on the Yale Showcase 18U, the midget organization’s second-tier team, in 2017-18. This year he’s back on Yale’s top 18U team and will captain Loomis Chaffee this winter.
Another Ivy Commitment
Lincoln Stars left wing Wyatt Schlaht has committed to play college hockey at Brown University. The Wellesley, Mass., resident played prep hockey at St. Sebastian’s before making the jump to the USHL for his senior season.
Schlaht has upside as a tall winger who can get up and down the sheet. To score consistently at the collegiate level, he'll have to penetrate the middle of the ice more.
