Trevor Connelly

Trevor Connelly (born February 28, 2006) is an American ice hockey left wing for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He was drafted 19th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Between 2020 and 2022, Connelly played for four different amateur teams, unusual for a player of his calibre. One of the four, Bishop Kearney High School, suspended him almost immediately before he left within two weeks.

On March 14, 2022, Connelly signed with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL). At the 2022 USHL Fall Classic, he made his debut with the team in a 4–1 win over the Madison Capitols, and scored his first goal during a 6–4 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks. During the season, he would record a streak of 18 consecutive games with a point, the longest such streak in Storm history. He also became one of two Storm players ever to record goals in seven straight games. In total in his rookie season, he scored 24 goals and 47 points, earning second-team all-rookie honors.

In the 2023–24 season, Connelly recorded 31 goals and 78 points in 52 games, good for seventh in goals and second in points in the USHL. The only player in the league to record at least 1.5 points per game and leading the Storm in goals, assists, points, and shots, he was named a second team USHL all-star. Ending his two-year career in the league, his 125 points were the second most in franchise history and his 60 goals were the third most. Entering the 2024 NHL entry draft, he was widely recognized for his skill, particularly his speed, vision, and intelligence, but some scouts were put off by multiple controversial incidents throughout his youth and junior career. In discussions with NHL personnel, Connelly cited his volunteer work and having participated in diversity training, concluding: "I just want to kind of not hang myself on the past and keep moving forward. And that's all I can do just to be the best person I can be every day." He was ultimately taken 19th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Connelly is committed to play college ice hockey at Providence College.

International play

In five games at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Connelly recorded five goals and ten points to lead Team USA to a third-place finish. Three of his five goals came in the form of a hat-trick during a lopsided 8–1 win over Germany in the preliminary round. Tied with Berkly Catton for the tourmanent's leading scorer, he was widely considered one of the best players at the event.

At the , Connelly scored four goals, including a Michigan goal, in an 8–5 bronze medal victory over Sweden. Including the four-goal outing, he finished the event with eleven points.

Connelly rejoined Team USA again for the 2024 World U18 Championship, where he was the only member of the team not to be part of the National Team Development Program. He distinguished himself in their 7–1 victory over Latvia, where he had four points, including another Michigan goal. Team USA reached the championship final against Canada, and led 3–2 midway through the third period when Connelly received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head of Canadian forward Ryder Ritchie. The Canadians scored three goals on the ensuing power play, taking the lead, and would ultimately win the game 6–4 and take the gold medal. '' The Hockey News'' assessed that Connelly had been "effective throughout the tournament, but one bad moment might have cast a shadow over a very solid effort," as the five-minute major had caused the game to be "flipped on its head."

Personal life

Initially a roller hockey player, Connelly switched to ice hockey when he was eight. He has a younger brother, C.J., who is also a hockey player.

Connelly experienced harassment and bullying from both parents and other children from a young age. When he was 14, he was suspended from Bishop Kearney High School following an incident where he allegedly responded to hazing and humiliation at the hands of his teammates by urinating on another player's equipment.

In 2022, while playing for the Long Island Gulls, 16-year-old Connelly posted a picture to Snapchat of him and a teammate posing in what appears to be a library with a swastika built out of children's blocks, captioned "creations". He quickly removed the post and apologized, stating that he did not understand the extent to which his actions would be hurtful, but was removed from the team. He has since participated in diversity training and community service, and received mentoring from a rabbi.

On another occasion, Connelly was accused of and suspended for using racial slurs during a match, an allegation he denied. The suspension was overturned when the league could not find any evidence that the incident occurred.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Connelly, Trevor
2006 births
Living people
American men's ice hockey left wingers
Ice hockey players from California
NHL first-round draft picks
People from Tustin, California
Tri-City Storm players
Vegas Golden Knights draft picks
21st-century American sportsmen