Connor Ingram is stepping away from hockey again, entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for the second time in his career.
The 27-year-old goalie has faced more than his share of challenges. Back in 2020-21, he first entered the program while playing for the Predators, later opening up about his battle with undiagnosed OCD that had affected him throughout his career.
But Ingram bounced back in a big way.
After joining the Coyotes in 2022, he grabbed the starting job and put together an impressive season. His dedication earned him the Masterton Trophy – hockey’s award for perseverance and commitment to the game – after posting 23 wins and 6 shutouts.
This season hasn’t been as smooth. Now backing up Karel Vejmelka in Utah, Ingram missed over a month earlier in the year. What the team initially called an “upper-body injury” turned out to be something much more personal – Ingram later revealed his mother had passed away.
He’s played 22 games for Utah this season, going 9-8-4 with a .882 save percentage and 3.27 goals-against average.
The team’s been lucky to have Jaxson Stauber step up in Ingram’s absence. The 25-year-old has been solid when called up from the minors, posting an impressive .925 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average in four games.
There’s no timeline for Ingram’s return – that’ll be up to the program’s administrators. But one thing’s clear: hockey’s taking a backseat while he focuses on what matters most.
