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By Earl Seitz

Connor Ingram

Connor Ingram on being AHL all-star, his pro career, and Dan DePalma

May 22, 2020 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS —- This week former Kamloops Blazers goaltender Connor Ingram was named an American Hockey League all-star.

Ingram posted a 21-5-5 record, 1.92 goals against average and .933 saves percentage with the Milwaukee Admirals.

It was his third season in pro hockey, following his three seasons with the Blazers from 2014 to 2017.

Originally drafted in round three by Tampa Bay in 2016, the Lightning traded Ingram to Nashville last June for a 7th round pick in 2021.

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He says he felt he never really fit the mold in Tampa Bay’s plans right from the beginning, but traded for a draft four places lower than his selection three years earlier was still tough to swallow.

“It kind of gave me a chip on my shoulder to know that I was a third round draft pick and after two years they gave up a 7th round pick four years from then — so it kind of gave me a knock to try to prove that I was worth more than that, to try to earn my spot again —- it worked out great for me so far.”

Ingram and the Milwaukee Admirals were riding high in the American Hockey League when the season was shut down by COVID.

The Admirals were leading the league, and considered Calder Cup favourites.

But any hope of winning was dashed last week when the league announced it was cancelling the rest of the season and playoffs — with no Calder Cup champion.

“The more you’re around teams and the more you play, you kind of know when teams have a shot and have the things you need to win.” says Ingram. “I think we were close, were right there. I think they did everything they could to see if they could make it work for us. But ultimately it’s a bigger decision than just hockey.”

Unless you’re a Carter Hart, it usually takes a goaltender longer than forwards or defenceman to prove his NHL quality.

It takes time, and patience.

“It’s a long uphill battle.” says Ingram. “I’m going into year four — being a four year pro you kind of start to know what you’re looking for and see things around you. It’s definately a waiting game, but I’m very happy in Milwaukee and I’ll never take it for granted where I’m at or what I’m doing —– you never know when that call is going to come.”

Ingram credits Blazers goaltending coach Dan DePalma for his development into a pro goaltender.

He tells a good story about one game, after a loss.

“I remember being upset. I came down (to his office) and we sat there and did’nt even talk about hockey.” says Ingram. “We talked about revenues and profits for probably an hour. He was talking about business, and how you need to win games and perform for things to work — he said you can do everything you can but if you’re not going to make money, no business will ever work. So you can do everything you can as a goalie, but if you don’t win games, things aren’t going to work. He had a way of doing things that not a lot of people do. And he could relate to me in ways that not a lot of people could — he’s an amazing man.”