Connor Haffner Embracing the Next Step With Niagara IceDogs
After a strong season in the OJHL, the young goaltender is finding his footing in the OHL while setting his sights on a future at the University of Vermont.
For Connor Haffner, the jump to the Ontario Hockey League has been a challenge he feels well prepared to embrace.
The Niagara IceDogs goaltender entered the 2026-27 season following an impressive campaign with the Burlington Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Now competing at the major junior level, Haffner says the transition has been positive, with the experience he gained in Burlington helping him adjust to the speed and demands of the OHL.
“So far it's been really good,” Haffner said. “I think the transition from the OJHL to OHL has been fairly easy for me. I feel like I've seen a lot of the situations down in the Junior A level.”
While the level of competition has increased, the young netminder believes he has been able to carry his game over to his new surroundings.
“Obviously, a little bit more speed and the shots get better,” he said. “I feel like I've been playing up to my standards and doing really well.”
Haffner's confidence comes after a productive season with Burlington, where he recorded a 14-6-5 record, a 2.95 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage across 26 appearances.
At just 16 years old, he demonstrated an ability to compete against older players while gaining valuable experience in the crease.
Rather than rushing directly into the OHL, Haffner believes spending his 16-year-old season in Junior A was the right decision for his development.
“I think it was the right choice for me,” he said. “I got 26 games in and had lots of opportunities to play against older players too, with almost the same calibre of shots and stuff like that.”
The opportunity to play regularly was particularly valuable. With consistent game action and daily practices alongside older teammates, Haffner was able to sharpen his skills and build confidence before taking the next step.
That preparation has already begun to pay dividends in Niagara, where he is learning to adapt to the more demanding offensive systems of the OHL.
For a goaltender, the difference is not simply about stopping harder shots. Haffner has noticed how frequently defencemen join the rush, drive into scoring areas and look to create opportunities with passes across the crease.
“Like I said, the defence, they get shots through a lot, they drive down the lanes, they get into scoring chances, and they see backdoor passes a lot,” he said. “So you always have to have a lookout and scan, no matter what's happening in the zone.”
The increased emphasis on awareness and reading the play has become an important part of his adjustment. As offensive players find new ways to generate chances, Haffner must remain alert to developing threats, even when the puck appears to be away from immediate danger.
It is another learning opportunity for a young goaltender who says he is enjoying the daily work that comes with competing at the major junior level.
“It's been great,” Haffner said of his first weeks with the IceDogs. “I've had lots of fun, working hard almost every single day.”
Learning From His Teammates
Joining a new team can be a significant adjustment for any young player, but Haffner has found a welcoming environment in Niagara.
He has also embraced the opportunity to learn from veteran goaltender Vladislav Yermolenko, whose approach and habits have offered another source of inspiration.
“Obviously, Yermolenko, taking some parts of his game and watching him, seeing what he does and adding it to mine,” Haffner said. “You can always learn from everything that you do.”
Rather than viewing the presence of another goaltender as a challenge, Haffner sees it as an opportunity to develop his own game by observing someone with more experience at the level.
Familiar faces have also helped ease his transition. Haffner pointed to the Ottawa connections in the IceDogs' dressing room, including Chase Hall and close friend Will Mullins, as important parts of his early experience with the team.
Having people he already knows has helped him settle into the room while adjusting to a new schedule, a higher level of competition and the expectations that come with playing in the OHL.
His first victory at the major junior level also provided a milestone worth remembering. The puck from that win remains in his billet room, although Haffner has not yet decided what to do with it.
“I don't usually do too much with the puck,” he said with a laugh. “But I think I gotta figure something else, maybe like a case or something.”
A Family Connection to the Crease
Haffner's path to becoming a goaltender began close to home.
While the position can be an unconventional choice for young hockey players, his decision was influenced by his family, particularly his older brother.
“My cousin was a goalie, and then my brother wanted to be a goalie, and then I looked up to my brother, and I wanted to be a goalie,” Haffner said. “I stole his equipment, and then that's just how it is, kind of in the family.”
That early inspiration eventually led to a position that has taken him from minor hockey in the Ottawa area to the OJHL and now to the OHL.
His influences have continued to evolve as his career has progressed. Haffner currently looks to Jeremy Swayman as a goaltender he admires, while Carey Price remains a major influence on his style.
“Before, it's definitely Carey Price,” he said. “I kind of got his pad design going right now and everything, but, yeah, I loved watching him and the way he plays.”
The reference to Price offers a glimpse into how Haffner approaches the position, drawing inspiration not only from a goaltender's equipment but also from the way he plays the game.
As Haffner continues to develop, he will have the opportunity to build his own identity while learning from the players and coaches around him.
Looking Ahead to Vermont
Beyond his immediate development with Niagara, Haffner has also taken an important step toward his long-term future by committing to the University of Vermont.
The NCAA Division I program provides an opportunity to continue pursuing hockey while working toward his academic goals after his OHL career.
For Haffner, the decision came after an extended period of communication with the university, giving him time to become familiar with the program and the people involved.
“I'm really excited about it,” he said. “I've been talking to them for a really, really long time, starting last year.”
He added that the commitment has been mutual and that the university's setting has also made an impression on him.
“It's a beautiful place, really beautiful over there, and I'm looking forward to it.”
With his collegiate destination established, Haffner can focus on making the most of his time in Niagara and continuing to refine the skills that helped him stand out in Burlington.
For now, his attention remains on the daily work required to compete in the OHL. The speed is faster, the offensive threats are more complex, and the margin for error is smaller, but his early experience has reinforced his belief that he belongs at this level.
Haffner's journey is still in its early stages. Yet, between the foundation built in Junior A, the lessons he is learning in Niagara and a future opportunity awaiting him in Vermont, the young goaltender has plenty of reasons to be encouraged about what comes next.
Interview with Connor Haffner done by Brandon Caputo.
Comments