Introduction
Brian Connelly (born June 10, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played 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.
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. 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.
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.
On July 11, 2014, Connelly signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League. 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.
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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | EC Red Bull Salzburg | EBEL | 51 | 2 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | ||
| AHL totals | 359 | 35 | 186 | 221 | 135 | 20 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 16 | ||||