Brett Connolly
| Brett Connolly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
May 2, 1992 Prince George, BC, CAN | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| WHL team |
[[ Prince George Cougars]] | ||
| NHL draft | Eligible 2010 | ||
| Playing career | TBA–present | ||
Brett Connolly (born May 2, 1992) is a Canadian junior ice hockey player for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was named the WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year in 2008–09 after becoming the first 16-year-old to score 30 goals in the WHL in 13 years. He is a top rated prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Internationally, Connolly has represented Canada at the 2009 U18 World Championships and the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Playing career
Born in Port Hardy, British Columbia, Connolly was selected by his hometown Prince George Cougars as their first selection, 10th overall, in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.[1] As a 15-year-old, he played major midget for the Caribou Cougars in Prince George,[2] and appeared in four WHL games.[3] He joined the WHL Cougars full time in 2008–09, scoring 30 goals and 30 assists in 65 games.[3] In doing so, Connolly became the first 16-year-old to score 30 goals in the WHL since Patrick Marleau in 1995–96.[4] He was named the winner of the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year in recognition of his season,[5] also capturing the Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year.[6]
Connolly won a silver medal with Team Pacific at the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.[7][8] He then joined the Canadian U18 team for the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships as an under aged player and scored six points in six games for the fourth place team.[9] Connolly also played in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August 2009 where he suffered a hip injury.[4] The injury has bothered him into the 2009–10 WHL season, as he missed some early-season games due to it,[10] and while named to play in the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game, he was forced out of the game due to the injury.[11]
Eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Connolly is highly ranked. He is listed as the sixth best player amongst North American skaters for the draft by International Scouting services.[12] NHL Central Scouting ranked him fourth overall amongst North American skaters in the midterm rankings despite the injury that has limited him to playing only 12 of the Cougar's first 46 games.[13]. In the final rankings, Central Scouting ranked Connolly third among North American skaters. Scouts have described Connolly as a natural leader with good on-ice awareness.[10]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2007–08 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 65 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 16 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| WHL totals | 85 | 40 | 39 | 79 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | Team result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Canada | WJC-U18 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | Fourth place |
| International totals | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | ||
| Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy | 2008–09 | [5] |
| CHL Rookie of the Year | 2008–09 | [5] |
References
- ^ Flett, Cory and Watts, Jessie (ed.). 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 99.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ Swanson, Jim (2007-06-15). "Cougars sign top draft pick". Prince George Citizen. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b "Brett Connolly player profile". Western Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b Swanson, Jim (Winter 2009–10). "Draft Derby". Prospects Hockey Magazine. Canadian Hockey League: WHL3–WHL7.
- ^ a b c "WHL Rookie of the Year – Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy". Western Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ "Rookie of the Year – Brett Connolly". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ "Team Pacific roster set for U-17 event". Harbour City Star. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ "Ontario wins second consecutive U17 gold medal". Hockey Canada. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ "Player statistics by team – Canada" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ a b Kimelman, Adam (2009-10-10). "Connolly stands out among WHL's draft prospects". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (2010-01-12). "Connolly, Kabanov out of Top Prospects Game". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ "International Scouting Services: Hall remains top draft pick". The Sports Network. 2010-01-18. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ Neal, Andy (2010-01-11). "NHL Central Scouting places Connolly fourth in mid-term rankings". Prince George Cougars Hockey Club. Retrieved 2010-01-20.