SWAMP RABBITS RESIGN MILBURN FOR 1ST PRO SEASON
CONNOR MILBURN RE-SIGNS FOR FIRST FULL PRO SEASON IN GREENVILLE
Rookie joined team at the trade deadline in March; earned 3 points in 13 games
By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and AHL’s Ontario Reign, announced today via a Swamp Rabbit Moving Transaction that the team has re-signed rookie forward Connor Milburn ahead of the 2026-27 Season.
Milburn joins fellow returners Jake Murray, Jack Brackett, Josh Zary, Neil Shea, Ryan O’Reilly, and Jake Percival. Alongside are newcomers Cade McNelly, Blake Bennett, Trevor Janicke, Peter Tischke, Oliver Tarr, and Nico Somerville.
Milburn returns to the Upstate for his first full professional season. The 6’5”, 215-pound forward made his professional debut on March 13th with the Fort Wayne Komets in a 2-1 road loss against the Indy Fuel, and notched his first professional point the next night with an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss on the road against the Bloomington Bison. He was acquired at the trade deadline along with a player to be named later in exchange for Josh Atkinson and made his Swamp Rabbits debut shortly after on March 20th at Savannah in a 4-3 overtime defeat. Milburn finished with an additional 13 appearances with the Swamp Rabbits and earned three points, including his first professional goal in the April 19th season finale against Atlanta, scoring with literally less than a second to go in the campaign.
“I really appreciated the opportunity Coach Costello gave me. He made me feel comfortable in a new environment and helped me navigate my first pro trade right off the bat, but also gave me confidence at the end of last season and into this offseason that I have a role on this team. I love Greenville, and the organization welcomed me in graciously, so I’m excited to run it back,” Milburn said of his return to the Upstate. “The trade was my first ‘welcome to the pros’ moment, but my biggest goal in coming to Greenville was to take care of the defensive zone. I’ve always prided myself on my defensive game and turning that into offense, but you can’t have fun in the o-zone if you can’t settle down your own end.
“Next year, with it being my first full season, I’d like to score more and earlier than just in the last second of the season,” Milburn quipped as he continued, “but in all honesty, I want to be someone that is reliable for our team in all facets. I focused on getting stronger this offseason so I can be involved in more ways throughout the course of the season, especially holding onto the puck and playing harder in the corners. Our expectations are high, as they should be, so I hope my reliability helps win us a ton of games as we push for the playoffs and beyond.”
“Connor is a great addition to our forward depth, especially up the middle of the ice. Having a player with his versatility is a big pickup in this offseason,” Chad Costello, Swamp Rabbits Head Coach/GM, said of Milburn’s re-signing. “His simplicity is his best asset. Because of this, he can play all three forward positions, he wins draws effortlessly when he plays at the center position, and he prioritizes defense, which only bolsters the strength we’ve added with our back-end. I expect him to be a great teammate in all of these facets and show us what he’s worked on this offseason. I expect a stronger, faster player in him, and can’t wait to see his compete level this October.”
From Kamloops, British Columbia, Milburn, 25, Milburn turned professional following his fourth and final NCAA season with Lake Superior State, where he captained the Lakers and notched six goals and 19 points in 34 games. Ultimately, he accrued 82 points (34g-48ast) in 130 NCAA games, all with Lake Superior State, and in 2024 garnered CCHA Second All-Star Team recognition and Co-Best Defensive Forward honors. Before going to college, Milburn played all but two BCHL games with the Chilliwack Chiefs, accumulating 42 points in 83 games. His younger brother, Reagan, was his college teammate for three seasons.
About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits …
Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s LA Kings and the AHL’s Ontario Reign. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League.
