« DI Hockey 2012-13

Connor Hardowa

School
New Hampshire
Position
Defense
Major
Business
G
2
A
12
PTS
14
+/-
+6

Classroom

Connor is a member of UNH’s prestigious Whittemore School of Business and Economics (WSBE).  Connor is one of few students pursuing a dual major in accounting and finance within WSBE. A two-time member of the Hockey East All-Academic team, he posts a 3.24 GPA. Connor is a five-time member of the dean’s list.

Character

Connor’s biggest strength is his high character. He was voted a captain by his teammate for the leadership ability. He has been described as a “warrior” by his head coach for his work-ethic and determination. Connor is a leader on the ice, but off it as well in the weight room, on the track and in off-season training. Connor is a model student-athlete and a well-respected member of the UNH community.

Community

Connor is active in the Durham community. He has led groups of his teammates out into the community to read in classrooms as part of the “Reading Across America” campaign. Additionally, he championed a project to create a nature trail at Moharimet Elementary School. The trail had long been a dream of the school when in the fall, Hardowa and members of the team helped make it a reality. In coordination with Moharimet faculty members of the school, including Director of Instruction Danielle Bolduc and former Moharimet teacher Cyd Scarano, 30 posts were set into the ground to mark the trail, starting at the sugar shack built seven years ago. Each post along the trail represents a learning point that helps educate students about trees and nature. At the sugar shack, the school is able to make maple syrup from the school’s own trees and also hosts an annual pancake breakfast. After the project’s completion the team went back to visit Moharimet and educate the students on the trail. Each student-athlete was assigned certain posts and talked with the students about the significance. After spending 30 minutes with each class, the players moved on to different rooms. At the end of each period, students were able to ask questions pertaining to the trail itself and what it is like to be a Division I student-athlete. In addition, Connor participates in a 3-on-3 street hockey tournament called “Win for Skin”, which raises money for skin cancer research. Lastly, Connor is involved with instructing youths a camps including hockey camps at the University of Alberta.

Competition

Connor is a great two-way defenseman for the Wildcats. Over the first five games of the season, he has six assists and has led a defense that ranks in the top 10 nationally and is first in Hockey East. He has a league-high +7 plus-minus rating and ranks first in defensive scoring in Hockey East. Coming into this season, Connor had played in 104 games with nine goals and 28 points. Connor is a disciplined defenseman that does his job in the defensive zone, but is also a key member of the UNH power play and penalty kill units, both units ranked in the top 15 nationally.