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).

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 season 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 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 Austrian Hockey League (EBEL) on May 29, 2015.

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.

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

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 2016–17 Dornbirner EC EBEL 36 3 21 24 20 — — — — — 2017–18 Dornbirner EC EBEL 54 4 38 42 30 6 0 0 0 2 2018–19 Dornbirner EC EBEL 52 2 23 25 22 — — — — — 2019–20 Nottingham Panthers EIHL 46 5 19 24 20 — — — — — 2020–21 EHC Lustenau AlpsHL 36 1 32 33 37 9 0 6 6 6 2020–21 EHC Lustenau Austria2 — — — — — 4 1 4 5 4 AHL totals 359 35 186 221 135 20 1 8 9 16