Rookies FINAL – Kings 4, Mammoth 0 – Connors, Woolley, Lord

The LA Kings concluded the 2026 Rookie Faceoff with a 4-0 victory over the Utah Mammoth, ending their tournament with a 2-1-0 record.

The Kings took four minor penalties in the opening period but opened the scoring with a shorthanded tally by forward Kenny Connors. With the Kings skating a man short, Connors worked his way in behind the defense, deked onto his forehand and finished at the near post, past Utah goaltender Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko for in for his first goal of the tournament and a 1-0 lead.

Later in the opening frame, the Kings doubled their advantage through forward Koehn Ziemmer, who found the back of the net for the second straight game. Connors this time played the role of facilitator, as he created space and found Ziemmer in the high slot. Ziemmer took his time and picked his spot, blocker side and in for his team-leading third goal of the tournament and a two-goal advantage.

Los Angeles added an even-strength goal in the second period to open up a three-goal advantage through 40 minutes of play. Operating out of the right-hand circle, forward Jack Hughes hesitated with the puck on his stick and changed the angle ever so slightly before he fired a wrist shot past Tkach-Tkachenko for his first goal of the tournament and the 3-0 lead.

Forward Jimmy Lombardi capped off the scoring late in the third period with his team’s second power-play goal of the game. Ziemmer added an assist to his tally, as he threaded a pass from the right circle to Lombardi at the back post, where he tapped in the final goal of the 2026 Rookie Faceoff, his first tally of the tournament.

Hear from Connors, defenseman Jared Woolley and Head Coach Andrew Lord after today’s win.

Kenny Connors

Jared Woolley
On his takeaways from today’s win
I thought we built off our game on Sunday and kind of stuck to what worked there. I mean, obviously their first game wasn’t really what we had to show, so to bring the consistency was good.

On the success of the penalty kill today and what he liked about that unit
I think we just kind of stuck to what was working. We didn’t get too out of line, too crazy chasing pucks. We had our structure and it worked.

On his fit within the new systematic approach for Kings defensemen this season
I think that’s something that’s going to come with time, but I think it’s mostly just a mindset. Once the puck’s transition, you’re getting up in the play there. So, I think just thinking that way a little bit more, that’ll come.

On if his approach this year changed at all knowing he’d be playing professional hockey
I wouldn’t say I’ve changed too much. Obviously, now I know I’m turning pro, so you’d rather be in the NHL. So, I mean that’s kind of what you’re looking for. More in years prior, it’d be nice to make the NHL, but you knew you were going back. So just, I think that have that in the back of my mind, I wouldn’t say anything’s changed really, but you’re thinking about that.

Andrew Lord
On his takeaways from today’s win over Utah
Yeah, really consistent. Started the right way, I thought we controlled a lot of the play, especially the first two periods. The 5-on-3 kill is huge in the first and then you know Z gets the 5-on-3 goal for. So, special teams was critical, penalty kill was elite, the shortie as well for Connors. Just a really good job by everyone playing the right way.

On a very good day for the Kings on the penalty kill
Yeah, we definitely need to stay out of the box a little more, but I thought the balance between when to pressure and when not to was excellent. There was shot blocking, there were a couple timely saves, but I thought you could just see all four men really connected. Starting with our stand in the neutral zone and then into the zone, really good job by everybody.

On Kenny Connors and his game today
Uou can see he’s back to himself here, especially tonight. Hounding pucks, relentless, good sticks on pucks, simple offense and he gets rewarded by having so many good penalty kills and gets the breakaway goal. Good for him.

On Yegor Rybkin and seeing a shutout in his first game with the organization
It was awesome. Everyone’s so excited for Georgie and Hammer and then for Rybkin to go in and just be that solid and really good in the third. We took our foot off the gas a little bit, they had a push and he was exceptional there. That was fun to see.

On any under the radar standouts during the tournament as a whole
I just think by committee, there’s a lot of guys that bought in and play the right way. Grant Slukynsky comes to mind. Some of the D, Mastrodomenico, an American League contract guy. Even Schneider, Schneider is an invite, some good sticks on pucks, some sneaky little offense, he’s a good skater. So, I think there was a lot of good, solid play. I think we’re just really proud as a group how we responded [over] the last 72 hours. Two really good games and we didn’t let our foot off the gas tonight, other than a couple minutes in the third.

The Kings conclude the 2026 Rookie Faceoff with a record of 2-1-0. The team will now head home, with NHL Training Camp set to begin on Thursday, September 17 at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.