Hockey isn’t just a game for Connor Brown—it’s a family tradition woven into his very identity. From his earliest days skating on a backyard rink in Toronto to donning the Edmonton Oilers jersey, Brown’s path to the NHL is as much about heritage as it is about hard work. Fans admire his tenacity, but many also wonder about the deeper roots that shaped him into the player he is today.

Unlike the ones tagged as future NHL stars early in life, Brown’s career was built on grit. Picked late in both the OHL and the NHL, he fought for every opportunity. However, beyond his determination on the rink, Brown has a cultural background that has been a quiet but significant contributor to his career.

A legacy based on hockey and tradition

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Connor Brown comes from a family deeply tied to both hockey and Irish heritage. His father, Dan Brown, was a coach and a standout player, leaving a mark on the sport in Canada and the United Kingdom. His mother, Anne Kennedy, also carries strong Irish ancestry, further anchoring the family’s deep-rooted connection to the Emerald Isle.

The Browns’ Irish roots were traced back to a single village, and their forebears came to Toronto in the 19th century. It was more than a tangential entry in family lore—it shaped their values, their work ethic, and even their traditions. Hockey and heritage were not separate concepts in the Brown household. There was an Irish flag in their basement, where Connor and his brother, Jeff, spent hours playing mini-sticks, fueling the competitive fire that would define his career.

Dan Brown’s own hockey career took him overseas to play for the Fife Flyers in Scotland, where he dominated the British Hockey League (BHL) from 1984 to 1986. Scoring 165 goals and 129 assists in just 71 games, he left an undeniable mark on the sport. Years later, Connor honored this chapter of his father’s life by sporting a Flyers-themed tie in an interview—a nod to the legacy that helped shape his own hockey journey.

Connor Brown’s roots? A hockey family through and through

Connor Brown didn’t just learn hockey—he lived it. Under his father’s guidance, he absorbed the fundamentals of the game in a way that went beyond tactics. Dan Brown’s coaching emphasized skill development and hockey intelligence over rigid systems, allowing Connor to develop a natural, instinctive style of play. From drawing up practice drills at the kitchen table to braving the freezing cold for backyard games, the Brown household revolved around the sport.

His mother, Anne, played an equally crucial role, ensuring Connor never missed a practice or game. A former track star, she understood the discipline required to compete at an elite level. While some parents saw the endless hours in cold arenas as a sacrifice, Anne saw it as a privilege to support her son’s dream.

Connor’s older brother, Jeff, played hockey, too—professionally, over in Europe. You know how sibling rivalry goes, right? It really fueled Connor’s ambition, turning their backyard battles into what felt like real NHL training. Those games were more than just fun; that’s where he picked up lessons on resilience, figuring out how to outsmart the competition, and pushing himself past his limits.

Now, even though Connor Brown was passed over in the early rounds of both the OHL and NHL drafts, Brown never lost his drive. I mean, look at his breakout season with the Erie Otters, playing alongside Connor McDavid. He snagged the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy, which is like saying he was the most outstanding player in the league. Not too shabby, huh? His NHL journey kind of mirrored that—maybe he was not the biggest name out there, but he was always dependable, stepping up when it really counted.