By Warren Kozireski —
Bentley University sophomore goaltender Connor Hasley tasted success early in his collegiate career being named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month in October 2022 after his first month in a Falcons uniform.
But this season the 6’3”, 194 lb. North Tonawanda, NY native is taking it to another level. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, he stands ninth in the nation with a 2.26 goals against average and tied for third with three shutouts.
“No secret, just coming to the rink every day and having fun and keeping your wits about yourself,” Hasley said. “Keep the pressure off and tell yourself it’s just a game.
“We (goaltending teammate Nicholas Grabko) have a great dynamic going and we know each day either of us can go and win a game. It’s all about competing where we’re trying to be better than each other and it pushes us both to be better.”
Hasley spent three seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and was prepared to take his pads to the OHL where he was a Kitchener Rangers draft pick, but instead headed to Northwood Prep for two campaigns.
Then it was the NAHL for one season in Odessa and one year in the USHL at Cedar Rapids before heading to Waltham, Massachusetts.
“After my U-16 year I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I knew prep school was a good option and I knew it was a good spot for scouts to look at me. In the NAHL I knew a coach there who knew me from another team. Then I went to Cedar Rapids—it’s all part of the path. Where you’re wanted and where you want to play, and I thought I got some good game experience and here I am.
“Kitchener would have been a great spot obviously, but I wanted the academic side of it too and I think that’s the path I was leaning towards. Whatever happened, happened and I’m at a great school and great hockey.”
Hasley is leaning towards Finance as a major but is still exploring potential majors at this point.
He started his youth hockey days with the Wheatfield Blades. “At the Hockey Outlet, the old Sabreland. That’s where it all started. I grew up playing house there and then I played select and then Triple A. Pretty much since I was four years old up until I was13.”
Hasley has evolved to see his name listed among the best in Division I hockey in the nation this season, but he is not letting that phase him as the Falcons end the regular season and get ready for the AHA playoffs.
“I try to stay away from those things honestly and just try to play hockey. Don’t worry about the stats, get some wins. I take pride in it, but I don’t pay close attention to what the stats say because those are team stats.”
Playoff ready approach…
(Photos provided by Bentley Athletics/Men’s Hockey Departments)
