UND Hockey: Connor Ford inks deal with AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights

HENDERSON, Nev. — Henderson Silver Knights General Manager Tim Speltz announced Friday that the Silver Knights have signed graduate student forward Connor Ford to a professional tryout agreement. The rookie forward has also signed a one-year AHL contract for the 2022-23 season.

Ford, 24, joins the Silver Knights after completing his fifth NCAA season. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native played the 2021-22 season as a graduate student at the University of North Dakota after spending his first four college seasons at Bowling Green State University.

The 6-foot forward posted four goals and 28 points in 37 games this season at North Dakota while serving as an assistant captain. Ford served as captain at Bowling Green in 2020-21, and as an assistant captain in 2019-20. He was named to the WCHA First All-Star Team in 2021 and the Third All-Star Team in 2020.

Ford was named the NCHC’s top defensive forward, marking the second straight year a UND player has taken home that honor. He appeared in 23 of the team’s 24 conference games, finishing second on the team with 20 points during those contests. The graduate student led the team and finished tied for fourth in the NCHC with 17 assists, closing the regular season with five helpers over the final four games. A master in the dot, Ford led the league with 359 wins during league action and paced the nation with 587 overall victories and a 62.4 winning percentage, the best in program history at North Dakota.

In 185 career NCAA games, Ford collected 57 goals and 142 points, as well as a plus-22 rating. He tied for the WCHA lead with 16 goals in 2020-21, and he became the 75^th player in Bowling Green program history to record 100 points.

Ford will wear jersey number 25 with the Silver Knights.

Connor Ford, Forward
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height: 6-0
Weight: 187 lbs.
Age: 24
Notes:

• Signed professional tryout agreement with Henderson on April 1
• Posted four goals and 28 points in 37 games with University of North Dakota
• Was the first first-year player at North Dakota to wear a letter since 1961
• Totaled 57 goals and 142 points in 185 career NCAA games with Bowling Green and North Dakota
• WCHA First Team All-Star in 2021 and Third Team All-Star in 2020
• Tied for first in WCHA goal scoring in 2020-21
• 75^th player in Bowling Green program history to reach 100 points
• Teammate of Brandon Kruse for four seasons at Bowling Green

*Alec Stocker Johnson, UND Athletics