Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
The NHLPA and NHL announced Sunday that Ingram will be unavailable for an indefinite period while he receives care and will return once he’s cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators. The player assistance program assists players and their families with mental health, substance abuse and other matters.
“For those of you that don’t know, earlier this season I lost my mother to breast cancer,” Ingram wrote in a post on X. “After trying to make a return to playing, I have come to realize that I am not myself. At this point in my life I need to put my health first, and (to) take the proper time I need away to come back at 100 percent.
“Though many view the program as a resource for substance abuse, I want to recognize all that they do. I am once again privileged to have access to their network of world class health professionals to hopefully avoid long term negative effects of putting your health second. With the program’s assistance I look forward to getting the medical help I need and returning to a happy and healthy.”
I’ll be back. 🩵 pic.twitter.com/c5HTbRqFdx
— Connor Ingram (@CBIngram1) March 9, 2025
The 27-year-old goaltender last played on Feb. 22 and has a 3.27 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage over 22 games this season.
Ingram previously entered the player assistance program in 2021 while with the Nashville Predators to treat undiagnosed symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. He returned the following season and was awarded the 2023-24 Bill Masterton Trophy, given to the player who best exemplifies “perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Detroit goaltender Jack Campbell entered the program in October, and five players — Valeri Nichushkin, Patrik Laine, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Ethan Bear and Samuel Girard —participated in the program last season.
(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)