Connollys Could Help

Two 5-foot-8 centers named Connolly have brought offensive credentials to Minnesota Duluth.

On Sunday night, fans were to get their first look at the 19-year-old freshmen, who could help breathe life into the UMD men’s hockey team. However, while Jack Connolly got on the score sheet early with an assist, Mike Connolly was sidelined with a minor hip injury.

The Bulldogs opened their schedule at the DECC with a 6-0 exhibition victory over Lakehead University of Thunder Bay, Ontario, playing its third game in three days.

Duluth Marshall graduate Jack Connolly was named USA Hockey’s 2008 Junior Player of the Year. He had 75 points in 61 games as a rookie with Sioux Falls in the U.S. Hockey League.

Mike Connolly of Calgary, Alberta, gained Canadian Junior A Player of the Year consideration early last season, then missed 12 weeks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League schedule with a knee injury. He had 74 points in 49 games for Camrose and was the leading scorer in the Canadian Junior A championship tournament as the Kodiaks lost in the final 1-0 to Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

"Jack is a throwback player, a pond-hockey player, who has great instincts," said UMD assistant coach and lead recruiter Steve Rohlik. "Every time you see him play, he'll do one thing that you'll say 'That's unbelievable.' He's unique.

"Mike has that great feel with the puck and is so crafty and skilled. He's not 6-foot-4 and doesn’t have blazing speed, but he's always been an offensive threat.”

Both players, who share an apartment with two other hockey freshmen, credit star linemates for success last season. University of Minnesota recruit Jake Hansen played with Jack Connolly at Sioux Falls and was taken in the third round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by Columbus. University of Denver recruit Joe Colborne played with Mike Connolly at Camrose and was taken in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by Boston.

Neither Connolly is rated exclusively as a goal-scorer or setup man, although both had about twice as many assists as goals in 2007-08. One physical difference: Jack weighs 160 and Mike 180.

"I like to make simple, quick plays. I like to be the guy who passes to someone with a big-time shot," said Jack Connolly, who had 77 points in 30 games for the 2006-07 Marshall team. "My goal last year was to get maybe 30 points, and I got a chance to play right away and got off to a good start."

Mike Connolly also had a quick start a year ago, as a left winger, then hit knee-on-knee with a Drumheller, Alberta, player Jan. 11 which tore two knee ligaments and fractured the left tibia bone. He elected not to have surgery and returned for the playoff season, which lasted 29 games. He joins a growing Camrose-to-UMD list which includes Matt McKnight, Mason Raymond, MacGregor Sharp and Evan Oberg.

"I worked all summer to improve my leg strength and balance, and I'm 100 percent healed now," said Mike Connolly, who will wear a protective carbon fiber leg cast this season. "As freshmen we’re here to help any way we can. Getting to the open ice and creating opportunities is what I like best."

UMD starts the regular season Friday at Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and then at Northern Michigan on Saturday.

Lakehead University..... …0-0-0 — 0

Minnesota Duluth………...4-1-1 — 6

First period – 1. UMD, Jordan Fulton (Rob Bordson), 2:17 (pp); 2. Justin Fontaine (Jack Connolly, Michael Gergen), 5:35; 3. UMD, Matt Greer (Brady Lamb), 9:51; 4. UMD, Kyle Schmidt (Scott Kishel), 17:51. Penalties – Arron Alphonso, LH (holding), 1:41; Cody Danberg, UMD (roughing), 7:08; Fulton, UMD (roughing), 7:08; Kris Hogg, LH (roughing), 7:08; Jordan C. Smith, LH (roughing), 7:08; Lamb, UMD (slashing), 13:20; Scott Dobben, LH (interference), 14:16; Chad Huttel, UMD (slashing), 18:26; Mark Soares, LH (interference), 19:37.

Second period – 5. UMD, Gergen (Connolly), 14:55. Penalties – Andy Hyvarinen, LH (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:47; Alphonso, LH (hooking), 6:44; Drew Kivell, LH (slashing), 7:58; Smith, LH (roughing), 8:08; Travis Oleksuk, UMD (too many men on ice), 9:18; Hyvarinen, LH (slashing, 10-minute misconduct), 12:50; Fulton, UMD (roughing), 13:53; Mitch Maunu, LH (hooking), 16:24.

Third period – 6. UMD, Greer (Drew Akins), 11:39. Penalties – Akins, UMD (tripping), :17; Jay Cascalenda, UMD (hooking), 2:53; Danberg, UMD (interference), 5:48; Kivell, LH (hooking), 9:06; Kivell, LH (hooking), 12:04; Ryan Baird, LH (holding), 12:29; Smith, LH (10-minute misconduct, game misconduct), 12:29; Danberg, UMD (hooking), 17:04.

Shots on goal — Lakehead 6-4-10—20, UMD 13-18-11—42. Goalies – Chris Whitley, Lakehead (28 shots-24 saves); Kyle Moir, Lakehead (14 shots-12 saves). Alex Stalock, UMD (10 shots-10 saves); Brady Hjelle, UMD (10 shots-10 saves). Power plays — Lakehead 0-of-8, UMD 1-of-10. Referees – Brian Thul, Brad Albers. Linesmen – Joe Harris, Chris Perrault. A – 3,011.

Posted by: pates on 10/6/2008 at 11:16 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink