Brian Connelly

For the British singer, see Brian Connolly.
Brian Connelly
Born (1986-06-10) June 10, 1986
Bloomington, MN, USA
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
EBEL team
Former teams		 EC Red Bull Salzburg
Rockford IceHogs
Abbotsford Heat
Houston Aeros
Iowa Wild
Leksands IF
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2009–present

Brian Connelly (born June 10, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).

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 EBEL on May 29, 2015.[6]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Tri-City Storm USHL 20 0 3 3 12 9 0 1 1 2
2005–06 Tri-City Storm USHL 54 3 9 12 16 5 1 0 1 0
2006–07 Colorado College Tigers WCHA 35 2 15 17 22 — — — — —
2007–08 Colorado College Tigers WCHA 41 3 16 19 32 — — — — —
2008–09 Colorado College Tigers WCHA 38 3 24 27 46 — — — — —
2008–09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 9 1 2 3 6 3 0 0 0 2
2009–10 Rockford IceHogs AHL 78 4 31 35 28 4 0 3 3 2
2010–11 Rockford IceHogs AHL 80 11 41 52 39 — — — — —
2011–12 Rockford IceHogs AHL 44 5 31 36 16 — — — — —
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 28 1 15 16 10 8 0 2 2 8
2012–13 Houston Aeros AHL 54 5 34 39 14 5 1 3 4 4
2013–14 Iowa Wild AHL 50 5 27 32 18 — — — — —
2013–14 Rockford IceHogs AHL 16 3 5 8 4 — — — — —
2014–15 Leksands IF SHL 48 2 10 12 10 — — — — —
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.

External links

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