Connor Mackey
Mackey with Team USA in 2023
Born (1996-09-12) September 12, 1996
Tower Lakes, Illinois, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 New York Rangers
Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Calgary Flames
Arizona Coyotes
National team  United States
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Connor Mackey (born September 12, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Mackey became highly coveted as an undrafted free agent after playing three years of college ice hockey for Minnesota State University, ultimately signing with the Calgary Flames in March 2020. He is the son of former NHL player David Mackey, who played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota North Stars, and St. Louis Blues.[1]

Playing career

Amateur

After playing two years of hockey at Barrington High School near his hometown of Tower Lakes, Illinois between 2012 and 2014, serving as team captain in his final year, Mackey spent the 2014–15 hockey season as a member of the triple-A level U18 Team Illinois in the High-Performance Hockey League (HPHL).[2]

Mackey began playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2015–16. He was named an alternate captain in 2016–17 and emerged as an offensive engine on a Gamblers squad that also featured future NHL first-round pick Casey Mittelstadt. Mackey led the team with 47 points in 60 games[3] and was named USHL Defenseman of the Year and to the USHL First All-Star Team.[4] He was recruited to join the Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey team to begin the 2017–18 season.

Prior to the start of his college career, Mackey was invited to and attended the Calgary Flames' 2017 summer prospect development camp as an undrafted free agent.[5] Beginning that fall, Mackey enjoyed a successful debut season with the Mavericks which saw him earn a spot on the 2017–18 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Rookie Team. In the summer of 2018, Mackey again attended an NHL prospect convention: this time, he was invited to the Buffalo Sabres' annual development camp.[6] He followed it up with a 2018–19 season during which he was named a WCHA All-Academic and to the All-WCHA Third All-Star Team.[4]

In 2019–20, Mackey, unaffiliated with any professional club after going undrafted, emerged as a top prospect and attracted interest from 28 of the NHL's 31 teams. He led Mavericks defensemen with 24 points in 36 games en route to being named to the All-WCHA First All-Star Team and the American Hockey Coaches Association's All-America West Second Team.[4] Mackey's performance in 2019–20 led TSN's Frank Seravalli to name him the top-ranked college free-agent on the market.[7]

Professional

On March 20, 2020, Mackey signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames to take effect at the start of the 2020–21 NHL season.[8] Despite his contract not taking effect until the following season, Mackey joined the Flames for practices in the Edmonton bubble as part of the return-to-play program in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.[9] Mackey made his NHL debut on February 13, 2021.[10]

During the 2022–23 season, Mackey was remained on the Flames roster, primarily serving as a depth defenseman and healthy scratch. After 10 appearances with the Flames, Mackey was dealt at the NHL trade deadline along with Brett Ritchie to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Ritchie and Troy Stecher on March 3, 2023.[11]

Following his brief tenure with the Coyotes, Mackey was signed as a free agent in the off-season to a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers on July 1, 2023.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 2911262 20002
2016–17 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 606414793 —————
2017–18 Minnesota State WCHA 40481240 —————
2018–19 Minnesota State WCHA 427182555 —————
2019–20 Minnesota State WCHA 367172429 —————
2020–21 Calgary Flames NHL 612320 —————
2020–21 Stockton Heat AHL 273131633 —————
2021–22 Stockton Heat AHL 535313683 71344
2021–22 Calgary Flames NHL 30112 —————
2022–23 Calgary Flames NHL 102139 —————
2022–23 Arizona Coyotes NHL 2013439 —————
NHL totals 39471170 —————
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2021 Latvia

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 United States WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 1 1 2
2023 United States WC 4th 10 1 2 3 8
Senior totals 17 1 3 4 10

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
USHL
Defenseman of the Year 2017 [4]
First All-Star Team 2017 [4]
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team 2018 [4]
WCHA Third All-Star Team 2019 [4]
WCHA First All-Star Team 2020 [4]

References

  1. ↑ Gilbertson, Wes (January 11, 2021). "Flames rookie Connor Mackey aims to follow father into NHL spotlight". Calgary Sun. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Connor Mackey – Elite Prospects". Elite Prospects. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Elite Prospects – Green Bay Gamblers". Elite Prospects. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Connor Mackey - Men's Hockey - Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics". MSUMavericks.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ "FLAMES DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTER AND SCHEDULE". Calgary Flames. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ Cruickshank, Scott. "From junior nobody to NHL commodity, inside Connor Mackey's journey to Calgary". The Athletic. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  7. ↑ Seravalli, Frank (March 20, 2020). "Flames land two top NCAA free agents in Mackey, Poolman". TSN. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ "FLAMES SIGN CONNOR MACKEY". NHL.com. March 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  9. ↑ Pike, Ryan (July 25, 2020). "Flames set 31-man playoff roster". FlamesNation.ca. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Canucks snap 6-game losing streak with 3-1 win over Flames". AP News. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Coyotes acquire Ritchie & Mackey from Calgary for Ritchie & Stecher". Arizona Coyotes. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Rangers agree to terms with Connor Mackey and Nikolas Brouillard". New York Rangers. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
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