Mike Connolly (ice hockey) explained

Mike Connolly
Birth Date:3 July 1989
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lb:180
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Team:Straubing Tigers
Former Teams:Colorado Avalanche
Augsburger Panther
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2011

Michael Brian Connolly (born July 3, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Connolly has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career

Undrafted, after playing junior hockey in the AJHL for the Camrose Kodiaks, Connolly attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team after the 2008-09 season, Connolly remained on a point-per-game average through his sophomore season. In his Junior year, he led the Bulldogs with 54 points in 42 game en route to the NCAA Championship and a WCHA First All-Star Team selection.[1]

On April 13, 2011, shortly after his team won the Championship, Connolly signed a three-year entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.[2]

In his first professional season in 2011–12, Connolly was assigned to the Sharks American Hockey League affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. He led Worcester rookies with 30 points in 40 games before he was dealt by San Jose at the trade deadline on February 27, 2012, to the Colorado Avalanche, along with Jamie McGinn and Michael Sgarbossa in exchange for Daniel Winnik, TJ Galiardi and a seventh round selection.[3] He was then assigned to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. After two games with the Monsters, Connolly was unexpectedly recalled by the Avalanche and made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild in a 2-0 victory on March 4, 2012.[4]

After off-season knee surgery, Connolly missed the start of the 2012–13 season with the Lake Erie Monsters. As a result, Connolly struggled offensively upon his return until the latter portion of the season to contribute with 9 goals for 23 points in 65 games. His rights were not retained by Colorado and he was released as a free agent at the conclusion of his contract.

On July 18, 2013, Connolly was signed to his first European contract, on a one-year deal with German club, Augsburger Panther.[5] In his first European season in 2013–14, Connolly quickly adapted to the larger ice and cemented his position as center on the top scoring line for Augsburg. Despite missing out on the post-season, Connolly lead the team with 28 assists and placed second in points with 42 to re-sign to a one-year extension on February 23, 2014.[6]

In the following 2014–15 season, Connolly was limited to 22 games due to a cruciate ligament injury, and was unable to reproduce his initial success in the DEL. After finishing with 11 points, Connolly left as a free agent and signed a one-year contract with fellow DEL club, the Straubing Tigers on March 26, 2015.[7]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2006–07Camrose KodiaksAJHL4718304879177132028
2007–08Camrose KodiaksAJHL37254166391235838
2008–09U. of Minnesota-DuluthWCHA4313294253
2009–10U. of Minnesota-DuluthWCHA3714264024
2010–11U. of Minnesota-DuluthWCHA4228265459
2011–12Worcester SharksAHL4010203026
2011–12Lake Erie MonstersAHL133474
2011–12Colorado AvalancheNHL20002
2012–13Lake Erie MonstersAHL659142321
2013–14Augsburger PantherDEL5214284276
2014–15Augsburger PantherDEL22471130
2015–16Straubing TigersDEL49827354870006
2016–17Straubing TigersDEL52939485320110
2017–18Straubing TigersDEL4712304244
2018–19Straubing TigersDEL521537523620008
2019–20Straubing TigersDEL5214314550
2020–21Straubing TigersDEL2314516
2021–22Straubing TigersDEL531934533841120
2022–23Straubing TigersDEL501622383373140
2023–24Straubing TigersDEL521134453512111126
NHL totals20002
DEL totals504123293416459345141920

Awards and honors

AwardYear
International
World Junior A Challenge Most Valuable Player2007
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team2008–09
WCHA All-Tournament Team2009[8]
All-WCHA First Team2010–11

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matt Frattin, Jake Gardiner Named To All-WCHA Teams . . 2011-03-31 . 2011-03-31.
  2. Web site: UMD's Mike Connolly signs with San Jose Sharks . . 2011-04-13 . 2011-04-13.
  3. Web site: Avalanche acquire McGinn as well as prospects Connolly and Sgarbossa . . 2012-02-27 . 2012-02-27.
  4. Web site: Avs' Mike Connolly familiar with site of NHL debut . . 2012-03-04 . 2012-03-04.
  5. Web site: Panthers are complete: Mike Connolly switches to Augsburger . . 2013-07-18 . 2013-07-18.
  6. Web site: The next important contract: Panthers keep Connolly . . 2014-02-23 . 2014-03-02 . German .
  7. Web site: Tigers announce the acquisition of four players . . 2015-03-26 . 2015-03-26 . German . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150328231913/http://www.straubing-tigers.de/aktuelles/article/del2-top-verteidiger-edwards-kommt-aus-ravensburg-tigers-holen-angreifer-connolly-und-bayda-sowi.html . March 28, 2015 .
  8. News: WCHA Tourney History. WCHA. 2014-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20180822214038/http://www.wcha.com/men/tourney/history.php. August 22, 2018. dead.