Drew O’Connor Bio
Drew James O’Connor (born June 9, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his hockey journey in New Jersey, played college hockey at Dartmouth College, and signed his first professional contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins before being traded to the Canucks in January 2025.
O’Connor represents a generation of American hockey players who developed through prep school, junior leagues, and elite college programs before reaching the NHL. Known for his scoring touch and two-way play, he has built a reputation as a reliable depth forward capable of contributing in all situations.
Early Life and Background
Drew James O’Connor was born on June 9, 1998, in Chatham, New Jersey, to parents Shawn and Meagan O’Connor. He grew up alongside an older brother, Jack, and two sisters, Erin and McKenna. As a toddler, O’Connor and his brother would skate together every Saturday at a rink in Bayonne, New Jersey, which sparked his lifelong love of the game.
O’Connor represented his home state throughout his youth hockey years. 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, he began his high school career at the Delbarton School in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. As his ice time at Delbarton decreased, O’Connor quit the team during his junior year and joined the North Jersey Avalanche in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. He split time between the U18 team and the junior team, helping the Avalanche win the T1EHL Championship and earn a berth in the USA Hockey Nationals.
Path to Professional Hockey
Although O’Connor had a productive youth career, he did not receive any college hockey scholarships after high school. Following a strong performance at a summer showcase, he earned offers from Division III programs and Dartmouth College. The Dartmouth coaches recommended that he spend a year playing junior hockey with the Boston Junior Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference in the United States Premier Hockey League to refine his skills.
During the Boston Junior Bruins’ inaugural NCDC season, O’Connor scored 39 points through 49 games, proving he could produce at an advanced level. He arrived on the Dartmouth campus in 2018 at 6-foot-3, having grown significantly since his high school graduation, and was ready to make an immediate impact on the college game.
Drew O’Connor Career
Collegiate Career at Dartmouth (2018–2020)
O’Connor played for the Dartmouth Big Green men’s ice hockey team from 2018 to 2020, majoring in Sociology at the School of Liberal Arts. He scored his first collegiate goal in his debut game and quickly established himself as a standout freshman. O’Connor was the only rookie to earn a spot on either the first or second All-Ivy League Team, finishing the 2018–19 season with 17 goals and 26 points, totals that tied numerous program and league records.
During his sophomore campaign, O’Connor elevated his game to historic levels. He became the first Dartmouth player since Scott Fleming in 2009–10 to reach 20 goals and the first Big Green player to lead the league in conference goals in 40 years. O’Connor was named the Ivy League Player of the Year, became the eighth Dartmouth player to earn selection to the ECAC First Team, and was recognized as an All-New England All-Star by the New England Hockey Writers Association, the first Dartmouth player to earn that distinction since 2006–07.
Professional Career with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2020–2025)
Following the 2019–20 college season, O’Connor signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The COVID-19 pandemic paused NHL play, and he was loaned to Manglerud Star Ishockey in Norway’s GET league, where he tallied six goals and four assists through seven games. O’Connor made his NHL debut on January 26, 2021, against the Boston Bruins, recording his first NHL assist while playing 10:51 of ice time on the second power-play unit.
O’Connor bounced between the NHL roster, the Taxi Squad, and the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the pandemic-shortened season. After an impressive 2021 training camp, he made Pittsburgh’s opening night roster for the 2021–22 season and scored his first career NHL goal on October 16, 2021, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He split the season between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, finishing with a career-high 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points in the AHL. In March 2022, O’Connor signed a one-year extension worth an average annual value of $750,000 and made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the New York Rangers in the 2022 postseason.
Salary cap constraints forced O’Connor to open the 2022–23 season in the AHL, but he quickly earned a recall and became a mainstay in the Penguins lineup. He tallied four goals and three assists in his first 25 NHL games of the season and finished the year appearing in 43 of Pittsburgh’s final 50 games. After the Penguins missed the 2023 playoffs, O’Connor represented the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, recording eight points in 10 games. In the fall of 2023, he returned to Dartmouth and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. The Penguins then signed him to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $925,000.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2025–Present)
O’Connor struggled through a 32-game goal drought during the first half of the 2024–25 season with Pittsburgh. He finally broke the streak on December 31, 2024, scoring both Penguins goals in a loss to the Detroit Red Wings. On January 31, 2025, O’Connor was traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with defenseman Marcus Pettersson in exchange for Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, prospect Melvin Fernström, and a conditional first-round pick.
Less than three weeks after the trade, O’Connor signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension to remain with Vancouver through the 2026–27 season. He quickly established himself as a depth forward who could contribute in all situations for the Canucks. O’Connor later represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, helping Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among O’Connor’s most memorable moments are his 2011 USA 12U Hockey National Championship game-winning goal, his first NHL goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021, and his selection to the 2023 and 2025 U.S. Men’s National Teams. He was also part of Team USA’s historic 2025 IIHF World Championship gold medal run, the program’s first world title in 92 years.
Drew O’Connor Career Wins
Throughout his hockey career, Drew O’Connor has collected significant achievements at every level. His honors include a 2011 USA 12U Hockey National Championship with the New Jersey Colonials, a T1EHL Championship with the North Jersey Avalanche, Ivy League Player of the Year honors, and a 2025 IIHF World Championship gold medal with Team USA.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
O’Connor scored 39 points in 49 games during the Boston Junior Bruins’ inaugural NCDC season, which helped him secure a spot at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth, he earned Ivy League Rookie of the Year recognition, All-Ivy League Team selection, ECAC First Team selection, and Ivy League Player of the Year honors in 2019–20. He also recorded the first collegiate hat trick of his career in a 5–3 win over Union on February 28, 2020.
Professional and International Highlights
In the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, O’Connor set a franchise record by tallying nine points over two games, earning him a recall to Pittsburgh. Internationally, he helped the United States win gold at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, recording one goal and three assists in 10 games. His first NHL goal against Chicago on October 16, 2021, helped head coach Mike Sullivan become the winningest coach in Penguins history.
Drew O’Connor Family
Family Background and Personal Life
O’Connor was raised in Chatham, New Jersey, by parents Shawn and Meagan O’Connor. He grew up with an older brother, Jack, and two sisters, Erin and McKenna. His early love of hockey was nurtured during weekly Saturday skating sessions with Jack at a Bayonne, New Jersey, rink.
O’Connor has maintained strong ties to his New Jersey roots and his Dartmouth community. He returned to Dartmouth College in the summer of 2023 to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology while training at Thompson Arena, balancing academics with professional hockey preparation.
2025 Season Performance
Drew O’Connor’s 2024–25 season was defined by change and a fresh start. After struggling to produce with the Pittsburgh Penguins and enduring a 32-game goal drought, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on January 31, 2025. The trade provided O’Connor with new opportunity and a two-year contract extension worth $5 million, securing his future in Vancouver through the 2026–27 season.
O’Connor settled into a steady role with the Canucks, contributing as a depth forward capable of playing up and down the lineup. Following the NHL season, he represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he helped Team USA capture their first gold medal since 1933. The combination of his new contract and international success set a positive tone for his career in Vancouver.
Looking ahead, O’Connor is expected to remain a fixture in the Canucks lineup as a versatile two-way winger. With two years remaining on his contract and a growing track record at both the NHL and international levels, he is positioned to play an important supporting role for Vancouver while continuing to develop his game.