Former Bulldog still hounds ’em on defence
OUA selects Brock rearguard to second-team honours: ‘The energy he brings is contagious’
Connor Walters made quite an impression in his first season patrolling the blue-line for the Brock University men’s hockey team.
The Welland native, who competed for a Memorial Cup championship with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2018, earned second-team Ontario University Athletics (OUA) honours.
The 21-year-old social sciences student was on the Badgers radar when he capped off a five-year Ontario Hockey League career by winning a league title and making a deep playoff run with the Bulldogs.
“During his run to the Mem Cup with Hamilton I watched how infectious he was for the team and his leadership qualities,” Brock head coach Marty Williamson said. “The energy he brings and the love of the game is contagious.”
Williamson, who coached against Connors for two seasons as the Niagara IceDogs bench boss, grew to appreciate the six-foot-one, 205-pound, left-shooting defenceman’s approach to the position.
“He’s more of a stay-at-home defenceman, and he’s responsible,” Williamson said. “You can rely on him to settle the game down and allow your team to take control of the play.
“We’re real proud of him. What a great player to have moving forward.”
Walters had a goal and 13 assists in 28 games in his first season competing in the OUA. He was only assessed three penalties.
He spent parts of three seasons each in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack and Bulldogs before coming to Brock.
The graduate of the Southern Tier Admirals triple-A minor midgets program started his junior career netting three goals and collecting 16 assists in 37 games with the Welland
Jr. Canadians.
His most productive season in the OHL was 2016-17 when he had three goals and 24 assists for 27 points in 66 games with the Bulldogs. He finished that season with an OHL career-high plus/minus of plus-14.
Walters was one of two Badgers named to 2018-19 OUA all-star teams. Logan Thompson was selected to the first team in addition to winning awards as the conference’s top rookie and top goaltender.