Utah Mammoth Place Goalie Connor Ingram on Waivers Amid Recovery

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Mammoth announced Thursday that they have placed goaltender Connor Ingram on waivers. Ingram’s situation has drawn attention after he recently cleared the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Ingram, 28, had been on the roster after participating in the program, which he entered following the death of his mother from breast cancer. Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said the decision to waive Ingram was part of a plan to help him find a new opportunity, either with another NHL team or in the American Hockey League (AHL).

“We’re excited for him and his path to recovery,” Armstrong said. “He will either get a chance to play for another NHL team, or he will go to an AHL team and resume his play.” Ingram recorded 9 wins in 22 games for the Mammoth last season, with an 88.2 save percentage.

Prior to his recent waiver status, Ingram posted on social media about the challenges he faced after his mother’s passing. He emphasized the importance of health and taking time to recover. “At this point in my life, I need to put my health first and take the proper time I need away to come back at 100%,” he wrote.

This is not the first time Ingram has utilized the NHLPA program. In 2021, he sought help for obsessive-compulsive disorder. After clearing the program, he was expected to find a new team before the Mammoth’s training camp.

As the Mammoth move forward, Vitek Vanecek is expected to step in as the backup goalie behind Karel Vejmelka. Vanecek expressed his readiness to compete for playing time, stating that “the better goalie plays” in the NHL.

The waiver process for Ingram is timely, as teams can claim him until 2:00 p.m. EST Friday. Armstrong voiced optimism about Ingram’s potential future, emphasizing that he would be playing soon.