STORY BY TODD CORDELL
Oakville native Conor McGlynn may not be producing a ton points, but he’s off to an excellent start to his OHL career.
The 18-year-old forward has six points in 22 games after leaving Sioux City of the USHL to join the Kingston Frontenacs.
The Frontenacs are off to an excellent start this season and are expected to contend not only for the league championship, but also for the Memorial Cup. That’s an opportunity that played a large role in attracting McGlynn to sign with Kingston.
“I felt like I had a tremendous opportunity to play on a great team in Kingston,” McGlynn said. “I (think) it was the best path for me being the type of player I am, and I couldn’t be happier.”
While McGlynn isn’t picking up a ton of points, Frontenacs assistant GM Darren Keily has been impressed with his play.
“Conor has been very consistent,” Keily said. “He’s not a flashy player but he’s very smart and reliable. He gets pucks in and out (of the zone) with strong work on the walls and he finishes his checks.”
McGlynn feels his time in the USHL helped him settle into the OHL.
“I feel like it was easy to transition having played a year in the USHL,” McGlynn said. “The USHL is a fantastic league and was a good stepping stone leading up to the OHL.”
Keily thinks McGlynn has made a smooth transition as well.
“We don’t think he’s struggled to adjust at all,” said Keily. “He has been good for us. He’s had some bad luck around the net but with a bit of good luck he’d (already) have five or six more goals.”
McGlynn is eligible to be selected in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and will get more looks from scouts playing in the OHL than in the USHL, but he’s not focused on that. McGlynn’s more worried about team success than his own.
“We want to be a dominant team in this league and make it to the Memorial Cup,” said McGlynn. “I think every team the same expectation and that is to be the best.”
He will have that opportunity in Kingston.