Kyle Connor's Biggest Win This Year Has Nothing to Do With Hockey

Kyle Connor's last year has been nothing short of life-changing. In March, he and his wife had their daughter, Willa Jo. By October, he'd inked an eight-year, $96 million extension with the Winnipeg Jets and marked opening night by recording a hat trick.

But perhaps his most significant accomplishment is off the ice, where he's helping to bring one of his late father's dreams to fruition.

Connor talked to his dad, Joe, in 2017, before training camp. It was a normal call, one they'd made before each game.

This time, though, the topic shifted to something more profound: Joe, who'd been fighting Parkinson's disease for a number of years, wanted to assist other families who were going through the same struggle.

For Kyle, who'd already lost a grandfather to the same disease, the words resonated. Weeks later, Joe died, but he left his son with a spark of an idea that would define his purpose.

Years later, Connor contacted Jets executive Mark Chipman for assistance in bringing his father's dream to fruition.

That brought him to U-Turn Parkinson's, a Winnipeg organization established by 'The Amazing Race Canada' champion Tim Hague.

In partnership with the Jets and Deer Lodge Centre Movement Disorder Clinic, they've established a partnership that has raised over $250,000 to date for Parkinson's research and support through initiatives such as the Team 81 Ride for Parkinson's and the team's yearly Parkinson's Awareness Night.

Now, as Connor gets ready to serve once more as the Jets' representative for this initiative, he keeps his father's memory alive, not with goals and assists, but with hope and action.

His biggest win might not be on ice, but in the lives he's working to transform.