Kevin Connauton Kevin Connauton ( born February 23 , 1990 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays within the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Selected 83rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft , he is a prospect for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Connauton played Junior A with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League ( AJHL ) before joining the Western Michigan Broncos of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) in 2008 – 09 . After his NHL draft , he joined the major junior ranks with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) in 2009 – 10 . He set franchise records for most goals and points by a defenceman , while being named a WHL West First Team All - Star . Junior career . Connauton began his junior career in the AJHL with the Spruce Grove Saints in 2007 – 08 . He recorded 13 goals and 45 points over 56 games – first among rookie defencemen and third among defencemen overall – to earn a rookie of the year nomination and a unanimous selection to the AJHL North All - Rookie Team . He garnered interest from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL , who put him on their protected list in October 2008 , but opted to play college hockey instead in the NCAA . He signed with the Western Michigan Broncos of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) in April 2008 and initially intended to join them for the 2009 – 10 season , due to an already full defensive corps . However , after Jesse Perrin departed for the Central Hockey League ( CHL ) in August 2008 , Connauton was invited to join the Broncos for the 2008 – 09 season . He went on to record a 7 - goal , 18 - point campaign as a freshman to earn an honourable mention to the CCHA All - Rookie Team . Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft , Connauton was ranked 202nd among North American draft - eligible prospects . He was subsequently selected in the third round , 83rd overall , by the Vancouver Canucks . He was one of three CCHA players taken in the draft and the highest overall . He was originally eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft , but was not chosen . Canucks director of collegiate scouting Stan Smyl highlighted Connauton ' s breakout pass as one of his strengths , while associate head scout Thomas Gradin noted his skating abilities . Following his NHL draft , Canucks management encouraged Connauton to join the major junior ranks in hopes of bettering his progress . He accordingly signed with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL on July 29 , 2009 . Prior to joining the Giants , he attended his first NHL training camp with the Canucks , but was an early cut , being assigned to junior on September 16 , 2009 . Connauton established himself as a high - scoring defenceman in the WHL . He broke Jonathon Blum ' s record for goals by a Giants defenceman on January 3 , 2010 , with his 19th goal of the season . He was later named WHL Player of the Week with a four - goal , 10 - point effort in five games from December 27 , 2009 , to January 3 , 2010 . In the last month of the regular season , he then broke Brent Regner ' s mark for most points by a Giants defenceman of 67 , set the previous season , with two points against the Kelowna Rockets on March 11 . Connauton finished his first WHL season atop the league ' s scoring list among defencemen ( he finished with five more goals than Tyson Barrie , who tied him in point - scoring ) and rookies with 72 points in 69 games . He was named to the WHL West First All - Star Team , along with Giants teammate Craig Cunningham . In the playoffs , the Giants advanced to the semifinals , but were eliminated in six games by the Tri - City Americans . Connauton recorded three goals and 13 points over 16 post - season games . Professional career . On April 28 , 2010 he signed three - year , entry - level contract with the Canucks . He was assigned to the Canucks ' minor league affiliate , the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) out of training camp . Debuting with the Moose , he scored his first AHL goal on October 8 , 2010 , a game - winner against goaltender Ben Bishop in a 4 – 3 win over the Peoria Rivermen . Personal life . Connauton was born on February 23 , 1990 , in Edmonton , Alberta , to William Connauton and Glenna Demco . His father is a lawyer who represents Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz . He has an older brother Sean Connauton , who plays hockey for Brown University . Connauton graduated from St . Francis Xavier High School in Edmonton in 2008 and was a business major at Western Michigan University , before joining the major junior ranks after one year in 2009 .