Connor Jones

Connor Jones (born August 16, 1990) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional forward who is currently head coach of the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL. Jones briefly appeared in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Islanders.

Career Undrafted, Jones played collegiate hockey with Quinnipiac University of the ECAC from 2010 to 2014. Jones played a majority of his Quinnipiac career on a line with his identical twin brother Kellen, who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL entry draft. The Bobcats lost to Yale in the 2013 NCAA National Championship game. At the completion of his senior year as an alternate captain with the Bobcats, Jones embarked on his professional career in signing a one-year AHL contract for the 2014–15 season, with the Oklahoma City Barons, the primary affiliate of the Oilers, on April 3, 2014. He immediately joined the Barons on an amateur try-out basis to complete the 2013–14 season.

In the midst of his second season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2016–17, Jones was signed his first NHL contract on a one-year entry-level contract with parent affiliate, the New York Islanders on February 22, 2017. In the final stages of the Islanders season, Jones received his first NHL recall on April 2, 2017. Added to inject energy to the fourth-line, Jones made his debut that night in a 4–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Jones started the 2017–18 season with the Sound Tigers after he was cut from Islanders camp. He earned a three-game suspension for slew-footing Utica Comets defenceman Jordan Subban during a game on December 1, 2017.

At the completion of his contract with the Islanders, Jones became a free agent however opted to continue within the Islanders organization in signing a one-year AHL contract with the Sound Tigers on July 9, 2018. In his final season with the Sound Tigers in 2018–19, Jones contributed with 6 goals and 13 points in 67 games.

As an impending free agent, Jones reunited with his brother Kellen, signing a one-year contract as a duo with Swiss second-tier club, HC Thurgau of the Swiss League, on May 16, 2019.

Following a second season abroad with Västerviks IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, Jones returned to North America as a free agent signing alongside his brother Kellen to a contract for the 2021–22 season with defending Kelly Cup champions, the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL, on August 31, 2021. Jones contributed with 39 points in 52 games with the Komets, before opting to end his eight year professional career at the conclusion of the season.

Personal life Connor and his twin brother Kellen, who was often a teammate through his professional career, grew up in Montrose, British Columbia, and both played hockey for Quinnipiac University and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2005–06 Beaver Valley Nitehawks KIJHL 5 2 1 3 4 10 1 2 3 6 2006–07 Beaver Valley Nitehawks KIJHL 52 26 46 72 156 13 3 4 7 472006–07 Vernon Vipers BCHL 2 1 2 3 2 16 3 6 9 6 2007–08 Vernon Vipers BCHL 50 24 30 54 50 10 3 9 12 22008–09 Vernon Vipers BCHL 60 19 41 60 49 17 9 9 18 182009–10 Vernon Vipers BCHL 51 36 45 81 40 19 9 11 20 22 2010–11 Quinnipiac University ECAC 39 9 15 24 38 — — — — — 2011–12 Quinnipiac University ECAC 37 13 28 41 30 — — — — — 2012–13 Quinnipiac University ECAC 37 12 14 26 41 — — — — — 2013–14 Quinnipiac University ECAC 40 15 23 38 42 — — — — — 2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2014–15 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 27 10 16 26 29 — — — — — 2014–15 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 41 4 6 10 31 10 3 0 3 2 2015–16 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 51 6 7 13 21 3 0 0 0 0 2016–17 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 58 5 14 19 89 — — — — — 2016–17 New York Islanders NHL 4 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2017–18 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 68 8 9 17 70 — — — — — 2018–19 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 67 6 7 13 55 5 0 0 0 4 2019–20 HC Thurgau SL 44 8 19 27 50 5 1 0 1 4 2020–21 Västerviks IK Allsv 29 3 10 13 18 10 0 3 3 31 2021–22 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 52 10 29 39 22 7 0 4 4 6 NHL totals 4 0 0 0 2 — — — — —

Awards and honours Award Year College ECAC Third All-Star Team 2012