LORTON, Va. – Connor Leslie’s hockey journey has taken an exciting turn, landing him in an NHL locker room.
The former Washington Little Capitals netminder has been named the Washington Capitals’ first full-time, dedicated emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) under a new NHL requirement mandating all 32 teams carry one for the 2026-27 season. Leslie, 24, will travel with the team, practice alongside the roster, and be ready to step in whenever the situation calls.
Leslie spent seven seasons in the AYHL with the Little Caps, starting in 12U and working his way up through 14U and into 18U. His best statistical season came at the 14U Bantam Major level, where he posted a 1.86 GAA and .921 save percentage in 14 games. This is the same mark he nearly matched years later at 18U, stopping shots at a .918 clip with a 2.86 GAA across 14 appearances.
After his time with the Little Caps, Leslie advanced to college hockey at Amherst, where he played four years of NCAA Division III, finishing with an 18-13-4 record, 2.65 GAA and three shutouts across 39 appearances. After graduating in May 2025 with a double major in psychology and political science, he had set his sights on federal law enforcement. Hockey had other plans. His involvement in summer skates at MedStar Capitals Iceplex caught the attention of goaltending coach Scott Murray, who brought him in for an audition early in 2026.
For Leslie, it is a full circle moment from suiting up for the Little Caps in the AYHL to now preparing for NHL action wearing a similar uniform.
