Cory Conacher, born on December 14, 1989, in Burlington, Ontario, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre and current coach. Despite facing early challenges, including being cut from the Burlington Eagles Minor Bantam AAA team at age 14 due to concerns about his size and diabetes, Conacher's determination propelled him to a successful hockey career. 

Conacher played collegiate hockey at Canisius College, where he became the school's all-time leader in points (147), goals (62), and game-winning goals (12) over 129 games. His outstanding performance earned him the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year award in the 2009-10 season. 

Undrafted, Conacher began his professional career with the Norfolk Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL), leading the team to a Calder Cup Championship in the 2011-12 season. He was honored with the Les Cunningham Award as the league's Most Valuable Player and the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as Rookie of the Year. 

Conacher's National Hockey League (NHL) tenure included playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Islanders. He also had successful stints in the Swiss National League with SC Bern and Lausanne HC. 

After retiring from professional play, Conacher returned to Burlington, where he founded Conacher Hockey, an elite development program offering training, tournaments, and international tours for aspiring hockey players. 

He also serves as an associate coach for the Blyth Academy Varsity 18U team, contributing his extensive experience to mentor young athletes. 

In addition to coaching, Conacher launched Conacher Athlete Management, a hockey agency dedicated to guiding players in their professional careers. 

His commitment to the sport and his community continues to inspire and develop the next generation of hockey talent in Burlington and beyond.