FRASER, Mich. – Common sense is a quality Conner Graham exudes.
After finishing his second season with the Metro Jets in 2019-20, the 2000-born forward from Lake Orion, Mich., had options for the 2020-21 season, but only one checked all the boxes.
“I was in between going to school for this year and coming back all summer but when it came down to it, I knew that coming back another year, getting better, and a chance for an offer to attend a school and play college hockey was what I needed,” Graham said. “I think the coaching and everyone that helps with the organization is what makes it so prestigious. The setup and all the time we are capable of putting in on and off the ice as well as the work the coaches put in to get our names out there, talking to schools, and helping us get better along the way, this organization does it all.”
Last season, Graham averaged better than a point per game with 16 goals and 46 points in 44 games. He also added two goals and six points in three USPHL playoff games. His regular-season numbers nearly doubled his rookie year marks in 2018-19 of 10 goals and 24 points over 43 games.
“Honestly, my overall confidence as a centerman and player improved last year,” said Graham. “This year, being a third-year guy, I want to take the role of a leader and be a go-to guy on offense.”
Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville loves the skill set Graham brings to the rink each day and feels he is a college hockey player in the making.
“’Grahamer’ is an elite player with high-end hockey IQ,” Quenneville said. “We have already had multiple NCAA schools ask about him before the season has even started. He will be highly recruited this year, no doubt. What makes him so valuable is his versatility as a player. He gets the game and makes necessary adjustments all over the ice. Not only does he make great plays offensively, he takes important faceoffs for us, can QB the power play for us up top or on the half wall and a big reason why players always want to play with him.
“We are excited to help him this year and he will be a valuable piece to our program again this year.”
Going into the upcoming season, Graham realizes that how last season ended with the COVID-19 outbreak left him “very unsatisfied.”
“It was sad working hard all year for nationals just for it to end after the first game,” Graham said. “Hoping to have that opportunity again and win it. The rest of this summer, I’m going to continue to work out off the ice, finish working my job, and then get on ice and start skating.”
