Conner Low Biography

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Conner Low Biography

 

 

Full Name: Conner Shaun Low
Position: Defense
Age: 20
Handedness: Right
Jersey Number: 34
Height (inches): 6'2
Weight (lbs.): 225
Birthplace: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

VHL Rights: New York Americans

 

Growing up:

 

Conner Low grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where his father Reed played hockey for the St. Louis Blues, which meant Low was lucky enough to grow up around a NHL dressing room for most of his teenage years. Conner was always heading into work with his dad every time he possibly could and this just fueled his love for hockey going forward. Low played competitive hockey from the age of ten in the St. Louis area, but the first time he really stood out on the ice amongst the rest of the kids, was his first year of Tier 1 Elite Hockey at the age of fifteen. Low had an outstanding season in his first year in the Tier 1 Elite League, but because of his birth certificate he couldn’t advance to the National USA development team like many of his friends on the team did. Low was very discouraged by this and quit the Tier 1 level of hockey in St. Louis and searched for options elsewhere.  

 

Hockey Career:

 

A few months after his horrible experience because of his nationality in St. Louis, Low received a call from then General Manager Lorne Molleken of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. Molleken explained the team selected the young defensemen in the WHL bantam draft. Low was excited for a new opportunity in his young hockey career and he jumped at the opportunity to sign a contract with the Blades and Low told the blades of his intention of attending training camp in the fall. Low attended camp at the end of August and quickly flashed the same skill that wowed his coaches and peers in Tier hockey in St. Louis. Low broke training camp with the Blades as a sixteen year old one of the youngest players in the entire WHL. Low had a great season during his rookie year in 2010-2011 for the Blades, finishing fourth in rookie scoring with 14 goals and 32 assists. The Blades won fifty-six games in Low’s rookie season but were swept by the eventual league champions in four games in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

 

Low took a huge step in his development during his rookie season with the Blades and he hoped to carry that into his sophomore season with the WHL club. The seventeen year old had a full year of experience under his belt and would be looked upon to eat up more minutes in his second year in the league, which would be a good gauge of how far Low has come in terms of his hockey development. Low would go on to have another stellar year with the Blades improving his point total from his rookie season with twenty goals and thirty-seven assists, but  Low would improve most importantly in his defensive zone, with a better plus minus of plus fifteen and more shots blocked with 150. The Blades finished second in the east and headed into the playoffs against the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Tigers would turn out to be too much for Low and the Blades, as Saskatoon would bow out in four straight games against the Tigers. After two failed playoff runs and with Saskatoon hosting the Memorial Cup next season things needed to change and change quick for the Blades heading into next year.

 

 

Low suffered a serious knee injury during off-season training heading into his eighteen year old season in the WHL. Low missed the entire month of September but was back on the ice after just missing a handful of games. The Blades season started extremely slow to begin the season and with the club hosting the Memorial Cup at the end of the season everyone knew changes were just around the corner. Low would happen to be one of the changes as he got caught up in the business side of the game when he was shipped off to the Swift Current Broncos. Low was devastated by the move and went on to have the worst season of his hockey career. Low registered only one goal and one assist in fifty- nine games. Low played in all five games for the Broncos in the post-season and didn’t fare any better posting zero points and a minus two in those five games. Low decided to look for other opportunities for the second time in his hockey career at the conclusion of the WHL season and he didn’t have to look too far. The Saskatoon Wild share the Credit Union Center back when Low was with the Blades and that set Low off to find out more about the Victory Hockey League.

 

Low entered the league shortly after the start of Season Thirty-Four and he was put into the VHLM’s waiver system. Low was quickly scooped up by the Wild as they held top priority at the time, so Low found himself headed back to the city that he first started his professional hockey career in. His first season in the VHLM was another horrible experience much like the one last season with Swift Current. Low was one of two players that actively were seen at the rink each and every day and the team ended up with only ten wins on the season. Low had an impressive season offensively even though the team ended up with ten wins as he posted twenty-four goals and fifty assists. Low would go into the Season Thirty-Five VHLM Dispersal Draft after his one season in Saskatoon.

 

Low would eventually be taken by the Ottawa Lynx in the fifth overall in what turned out to be a very deep and talented first round. Low would be the anchor on the blue-line for the Lynx in what turned out to be a championship season with the Lynx only losing thirteen games all season including the playoffs.  Low had his second impressive VHLM campaign posting thirty-three goals and seventy-six assists, to go along with his plus forty-three plus minus rating and 127 shots blocked. Low has will no longer be heading to the VHLM next year as he will enter his first season with the New York Americans when he league begins their thirty-sixth season.

 

 

Positives:

Point Production:  In all but one year of his hockey career Low has been able to find the score sheet most nights from the back-end. In six years of competitive hockey Low has a combined 333 points, including last year’s huge outburst of 109 points. Low often finds himself on the power play which always helps out his offensive numbers, but his quick low shot from the point if often hard to find with a screen in front of you. The numbers might not be nearly as high as they were in the last two seasons in the VHLM, but look for Low to be near the leaders in the near future.  

 

Puck Handling:  A smooth puck handler Low is the man you want in control of the puck coming out of the defensive zone. The first pass from Low is crisp and always seems to go tape to tape, finding the man even in heavy traffic. Low isn’t fancy with dekes and spins; he just handles the puck with such a touch not even an egg would break with Low puck handling it down the ice. Low will need to keep improving his puck handling skills as after just a handful of games VHL teams will be pressuring Low to make a mistake with the puck.

 

Skating: Low’s skating is an important part of his al- around game. Low likes to pinch in on the offensive rush and sometimes finds himself out of position. Low’s skating ability allows him to make his way back into the play before the other teams is able to capitalize on an off man rush.  Low credit’s his skating ability to the power skating classes he use to attend every summer back in his father’s home province of Saskatchewan. Low will need to keep working on his skating when he makes the jump to a much faster VHL game.

 

 

Negatives:

 

Discipline: Low often finds himself sitting in the penalty box for a variety of different reasons. Last season with the Lynx Low had 106 penalty minutes; only ten of those minutes came from majors, meaning Low picked up forty-six minors last season in the VHLM.  Low will need to keep his stick and elbows down next season as it will only hurt the Americans when Low sits in the penalty box.

 

Leadership: Low has never really been looked upon to lead the team in the dressing room before heading to the Americans this season. Even when Low played in Saskatoon with the Blades there were always plenty of veterans on the Blades roster with years of WHL experience. This year with the Americans the franchise will look to Low to provide some leadership in the locker-room with a relatively young roster including Low himself. Hopefully Low will show some spark in the locker-room that will keep the Americans loose as they enter a season that will see a lot of ups and downs.

 

 

Experience: Although Low has played six years of professional hockey, last season with the Lynx was his first championship winning season. The team in Ottawa was stacked with some of the best talent the VHLM, so Low gained some experience but will need to experience the VHL first hand. The fans in New York are used to winning hockey and a long re-build will not be tolerated in the Big Apple. Low will need to gain some experience quick and help lead the team back to the Continental Cup finals in the near future.

 

 

 

St. Louis AA Blues (Tier 1): 15G, 30A, 45PTS, +7, 60 PIM, 60SB

Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 14G, 32A, 46PTS, +7, 80 PIM, 80SB

Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 20G, 37A, 57PTS, +15, 100PIM, 120SB

Saskatoon/Swift Current (WHL): 1G, 1A, 2PTS, -1. 140PIM, 80SB

Saskatoon Wild (VHLM): 24G, 50A, 74PTS, -82, 76PIM, 122 SB

Ottawa Lynx (VHLM): 33G, 76A, 109PTS, +43, 106PIM, 127SB

[eaglesfan036 4,585]

Overview: 3/3 - I like the long history you wrote on your player. It seems like the WHL develops a lot of VHLM talent, and Low is no exception due to his visa problems. Also, I'm glad you were drafted to the Lynx as you were great with us and we were able to win a cup together. I felt as though you could have added some more stats, but I didn't deduct any.

 

Grammar: 2/2 - Couldn't find anything, nice job!

 

Presentation: 1/1 - Looks good.

 

Pros: 2/2 - Over 200 words. Looks like Low will be a defenseman with solid offensive skills.

 

Cons: 2/2 - Over 200 words. Good stuff.

 

Overall: 10/10

Edited December 29, 2013 by eaglesfan036