| Drew O'Connor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_by_Sandro_Halank%E2%80%93091.jpg) O'Connor with Team USA in 2023 | |||
| Born |
June 9, 1998 Chatham, New Jersey, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Pittsburgh Penguins Manglerud Star | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2020–present | ||
Drew James O'Connor (born June 9, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Growing up in New Jersey, O'Connor represented his home state on various occasions. He played with the New Jersey Colonials minor ice hockey team and scored the game-winning goal to clinch the 2011 USA 12U Hockey National Championship. In 2013, O'Connor began his high school career at the Delbarton School in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. However, as his ice time declined, he joined the North Jersey Avalanche in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League following his junior year. Although he helped them win the T1EHL Championship, O'Connor did not originally receive any hockey scholarships to play collegiate ice hockey. After taking part in a summer showcase in July and performing well, he was accepted into Dartmouth College but was recommended to spend a year of junior hockey with the Boston Junior Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference in the United States Premier Hockey League.
O'Connor had an exponential career with the Dartmouth Big Green men's ice hockey from 2018 to 2020. After finishing his freshman season with 17 goals and 28 points, he became the only rookie to earn a spot on either the first or second All-Ivy League Team. His goal and points totals also tied numerous program and league records. His goal total was ranked second among all first-year players in Division I in 2018–19 and third among all freshman in program history. His 26 points were second on the team and were the most by a Big Green rookie since Matt Lindblad's 28 in 2010-11. When he returned to the Big Green for his sophomore season, he broke his previous season's records. O'Connor became the first Dartmouth player since Scott Fleming in 2009–10 to reach 20 goals and the first Dartmouth player to lead the league in conference goals in 40 years. He also became the fourth player in Dartmouth history to be named the Ivy League Player of the Year and the eighth Dartmouth player to earn a selection onto the ECAC First Team. Lastly, O'Connor also became the first Dartmouth player to be recognized by the New England Hockey Writers Association as an All-New England All-Star since 2006–07.