Connor Ungar has had quite the season. He wasn’t able to participate in training camp due to an injury, and he didn’t get an opportunity to compete. That put him seventh on the Edmonton Oilers’ depth chart at the time behind Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, Matt Tomkins, Connor Ingram (who was added after camp), Samuel Jonsson and Nathaniel Day. Jonsson and Day were drafted in 2022 and 2023 by the Oilers, while Ungar signed as a free agent last season.

He began the season as the third goalie in the ECHL. The Oilers had to find a team for him to play for, because they didn’t want to carry three goalies in Fort Wayne. Day is 20, Jonsson is 22 and Ungar is 24. They all needed to play, and that started Ungar’s unique journey that had him play on four different teams in his first 12 games of the season. That uncertainty might have hindered some players, but Ungar has thrived and now he’s playing great in the American League.

Ungar’s season had him play four games with the Greensboro Gargoyles, then two with Fort Wayne, then five with Orlando Solar Bears, before he was recalled to Bakersfield in the American Hockey League. Ungar has been outstanding with the Condors, going 6-0 with a .955Sv% and 1.32 GAA. Ungar joined me on Sports 1440 to discuss his unique season and journey to pro hockey.

Connor Ungar: Yeah, maybe someone else said that. But never me, it’s always been hockey. I’ve never questioned my ability to do it. I never thought about anything else. But I think goaltending maybe takes a bit longer, but from my perspective, I just kept playing the game, kept learning, kept growing and just getting better ultimately.

Ungar: To be completely honest, they were just the only team that promised, well not promised, but basically said you’re going to play every game. I knew that if I wanted to move on from there, I needed that right. In U Sport you only play what, 30 games, and I knew I couldn’t get away with playing 15. I needed somewhere where I was going to play 25 plus. I just felt like it was a good fit, ultimately, because of the ice time that was going to be available.

Ungar: I think learning the schedule a little bit. It’s obviously a pretty grueling schedule with a lot of three games in three nights. And the guys are bigger, stronger, but I think just seeing different situations. Obviously, the situations are different and in pro there is a lot more traffic. It’s faster. So, you have to adapt and read those different situations. I think the biggest thing is I just saw a lot of a lot of situations that I hadn’t seen before, and I think coming into this year, I knew what to expect a little bit.

Ungar: Maybe a bit. It’s kind of funny to look at it now when you say it like that. But in the moment, it doesn’t quite feel like that. I didn’t know I was going to play for three different teams. You go to Greensboro first and you’re like, ‘Okay, I’m here.’ You play there. And then obviously Fort Wayne had an injury and then called and said we need you back at Fort Wayne. And so, then I’m thinking, ‘Okay, I’m going here.’ You aren’t planning on it.

I just tried to tell myself, I’m in Greensboro, okay now I’m in Fort Wayne and then obviously, the Orlando one was just funny having a third one. But they said Orlando is going to give you a good opportunity for the rest of the year. So, I thought I okay, I guess now I’m in Orlando. I was like, ‘Okay I’m in Orlando and that’s where I’m at now.’ Then I got the news I’m going to Bakersfield. And then it’s just very happy and grateful. I couldn’t wait to go.

It is a little bit of a comedy to look at it now and be like, well, four teams in 12 games, but in the moment, you’re just going to play. And I think that’s what’s helped me through the whole process. I kind of enjoyed it and just take a new challenge on for what it is. There is no reason to feel down, because I was playing well in all the spots. I got to each new team and just thought let’s go play well here too and I didn’t overthink anything. I just went out and played.

Ungar: Honestly, not paying attention to the statistics at all. And I was just pretty driven this year to focus on the process over the results. I think maybe in previous years, everyone pays attention to numbers and stats. And ultimately, you need that to move on, but that can be a distraction at times. I felt like there was maybe times last year where it was a distraction for me. It was a goal of mine this year to not let that be a distraction and as long as I felt like I was playing well in the games and worrying about what actually mattered it would benefit me more. You just have to believe that the stats will take care of themselves. And so far, they have this year. I don’t want to change what I’m doing. I just want to keep focusing on what matters. And that’s practices and just trust in the process.

Ungar: Of course there’s little tactical aspects, like skating and your hands and your puck handling, small stuff like that. But I think the biggest change was just more mental than anything. Trying to be calmer. It’s hard to explain, but you’re in practice and you’re doing great in practice and you’re like, ‘Okay, why am I so good in practice, but then I’ll give up one in the game that I’m thinking if this is practice, I would have had it.’ It was more my demeanor. I was almost too, I don’t know if anxious is the right word, or I was simply too excited to play the game. You get a little bit too sporadic.

I think this year, I’ve done a good job of mentally, maybe slowing it down a little bit. And taking myself more to like a practice mentality of being calmer and more relaxed and less sporadic. And I think that’s honestly been a big change for me. It’s just treating games more like practices and being aware of when maybe I’m getting a little nervous or a little hyper and just bringing myself back to that calm place like you have in practice. Because you’re not nervous in practice. It’s practice. So really, I’ve been trying to put an emphasis on that, and I think it has really helped me.

Ungar. (Laughs). Yes, it’s kind of funny when you read the profile and you’re like wow this guy’s played on a lot of teams. It’s just kind of unique how it’s worked out like that, but, yes, I think I’ve always been a guy that can fit in any locker room. I’d say I’m pretty easy going and can just roll with the punches and go with the flow.

When you look at how many teams I played on, maybe that is a strength of mine. I think my personality is easy to get along with. There’s been no trouble for me to fit in the different places. But it is kind of funny to look back and realize I haven’t played on the same team two years in a row.

Ungar (laughs): Oh, yeah, we never talk about it when the game’s going on, but we talk a lot after the game and stuff. And whether it is a good or bad games we’ll talk about it and what we what we noticed about that that team we played. There’s been great dialogue between us. I feel like I’m playing well, he’s playing and the team has been playing really well. So, it’s a lot of fun right now, to be honest. The vibes are great and I think everyone’s just pretty determined to keep this thing rolling as far as we can.

Matt has been spectacular the last couple of games. And the team’s got a ton of confidence. It’s fun to be a part of and I’m just really, really grateful for the opportunity to be here and I’m excited for the upcoming weekend.

Ungar:  I have my routine I like to stick to, but if something doesn’t work out or I miss something within the routine, it’s not going to throw me off. At the end of the day, you have your routine, and a routine is great to get you to that place you need to be, but no day is going to be exactly the same. And some things are out of your control. I make it a point to never let something that’s out of my control affect the way I’m going to play.

Gregor: I noticed this season you’ve worn number 31, number 32, number 35 and number 40. Four different numbers in one year, unreal. Do you have a favorite number you like to wear?

Gregor: That’s a good question. At the start of the year, I would have told you 32, but I’m playing well in 40, so, man, I don’t I don’t know anymore. Jonathan Quick was my favorite goalie growing up so that’s the idea behind 32. I started the year wanting 32. I went to Greensboro and they didn’t have a 32 so I wore 35. You can’t let the number affect the way you’re going to play, because it is out of my control. Then I got back to Fort Wayne and they did have 32, so I wore that. Then in Orlando, Gillies was wearing 32 so I had to go with 31. It was kind of given to me. And now I’m in Bakersfield and 40 was the only option. So that where I’m at, but to be honest I’m kind of digging 40.

Ungar: Awesome stuff, thank you.

This interview occurred before the Condors played Colorado last night. The Condors lost 4-1, as Tompkins stopped 41 of 44 shots. Ungar will play tonight in San Jose and look to improve to 7-0. He’s been one of the most interesting stories to watch in the Oilers organization this season, and I’m curious to see how it continues. He’s been excellent in his 17 starts this season between the ECHL and AHL and I hope his success continues. I love seeing late-bloomers emerge.