Brian Connelly

Brian Connelly (born June 10, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently contracted to EHC Lustenau of the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL). Connelly previously iced with the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

Brian Connelly
Born (1986-06-10) June 10, 1986
Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
AlpsHL team
Former teams
EHC Lustenau
Rockford IceHogs
Abbotsford Heat
Houston Aeros
Iowa Wild
Leksands IF
EC Red Bull Salzburg
Dornbirner EC
Nottingham Panthers
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2009present

Playing career

Connelly played collegiate hockey with Colorado College of the WCHA as a puck-moving offensive defenseman.

Undrafted due to his diminutive size, Connelly signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. In his first seasons with the Blackhawks affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, Connelly quickly developed as the main scoring presence on the IceHogs defense. In the 2010–11 season, Connelly was selected and played in the 2011 AHL All-Star Game.[1]

In the following 2011–12 season, in the midst of his third full season within the Blackhawks system and following his second consecutive AHL All-Star Game appearance, Connelly was traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for veteran Brendan Morrison on February 27, 2012. He was then immediately assigned to the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat.[2] In helping the Heat to the second round of the playoffs, Connelly finished with a combined 52 points, placing second in the AHL amongst defenseman to earn a position in the AHL Second All-Star Team.

On July 6, 2012, Connelly signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.[3]

In the final year of his contract in the 2013–14 season, on February 26, 2014, Connelly was traded by the Wild in a return to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brad Winchester.[4]

On July 11, 2014, Connelly signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League.[5] He endured a disappointing debut European season in 2014–15 with Leksands, contributing with only 2 goals and 12 points in 48 games.

In hopes of a rebound, Connelly left Leksands to sign a one-year contract with Austrian club Champions, EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL) on May 29, 2015.[6]

Connelly played four seasons in the EBEL before leaving as a free agent to sign a one-year deal with English club, the Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL, on June 18, 2019.[7]

On June 24, 2020, Connelly left Nottingham to sign for AlpsHL side EHC Lustenau.[8]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Tri-City Storm USHL 2003312 90112
2005–06 Tri-City Storm USHL 54391216 51010
2006–07 Colorado College Tigers WCHA 352151722
2007–08 Colorado College Tigers WCHA 413161932
2008–09 Colorado College Tigers WCHA 383242746
2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 91236 30002
2009–10 Rockford IceHogs AHL 784313528 40332
2010–11 Rockford IceHogs AHL 8011415239
2011–12 Rockford IceHogs AHL 445313616
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 281151610 80228
2012–13 Houston Aeros AHL 545343914 51344
2013–14 Iowa Wild AHL 505273218
2013–14 Rockford IceHogs AHL 163584
2014–15 Leksands IF SHL 482101210
2015–16 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 512252728 1815612
2016–17 Dornbirner EC EBEL 363212420
2017–18 Dornbirner EC EBEL 544384230 60002
2018–19 Dornbirner EC EBEL 522232522
2019–20 Nottingham Panthers EIHL 465192420
AHL totals 359 35 186 221 135 20 1 8 9 16

References

  1. "Elite Prospects - AHL All-Star Game". Eliteprospects.com. 2011-02-27. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  2. "Blackhawks acquire veteran Morrison". Chicago Blackhawks. 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  3. "Wild signs defenseman Brian Connelly". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  4. "Blackhawks acquire Connelly from Minnesota". Chicago Blackhawks. 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  5. "Brian Connelly is ready for Leksand" (in Swedish). Leksands IF. 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  6. "Red Bulls strengthen the defense with Connelly" (in German). EC Red Bull Salzburg. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  7. "Smooth skater Connelly signs". Nottingham Panthers. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  8. http://www.ehc-lustenau.at/EHC/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1507:ehc-lustenau-verpflichtet-ehemaligen-ebel-verteidiger-brian-conelly&catid=2&Itemid=104&lang=de


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