WHL Prince George Cougars

Brett Connolly Scores WHL Rookie of the Year Award

Published on April 29, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Prince George, BC - The accolades for 16-year old Brett Connolly continue to mount following an outstanding 2008-09 rookie campaign. Now, Prince George's top Cat has been named the WHL's top rookie. Connolly, a Prince George product, has won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the Western Hockey League's rookie of the year at the league's awards luncheon in Edmonton Wednesday, edging Regina Pats forward Jordan Weal, the Eastern conference nominee.

"I'm really excited about winning this award. It has been a goal of mine for a while now and it's nice to see all the hard work paid off." Said Connolly, "I had no thoughts of being rookie of the year at the start of the season, I just wanted to make the team. I'm really happy I got the chance to play as much as I did and this is a great reward."

Connolly had a record setting year for the Cougars, establishing a new club rookie standard with 30 goals and 60 points in 65 games this season, becoming the first player to earn the Cougars MVP award to go along with top rookie honors. Connolly's 30 goals are the most by a 16-year old in the WHL since Patrick Marleau had 32 in 1995-96 with Seattle. Connolly's 60 points was third overall among WHL rookies and he was first in goals (30) and power play goals (12). Connolly tied for top spot in game winning goals (7) and short-handed goals (2).

Connolly, who turns 17 Saturday, not only was a presence for the Cougars, but was also an offensive force on the international stage. Connolly led Team Pacific with eight points in 6 games at the World Under-17 challenge in Port Alberni in January, leading the host squad to a silver medal. Then at the recently completed World Under-18 championship in Fargo, North Dakota, Connolly finished tied for fourth in Canadian scoring with six points in as many games and was the youngest player on the roster.

With the Cougars hiring Dean Clark as head coach this week, Connolly is looking forward to bigger and better things in the upcoming WHL season. "I think myself and the rest of the team is really looking forward to a fresh start and I know I'll have to work hard to get on his good side, but I always try to work as hard as I can. It's great to have someone who has been around a championship to go forward with and hopefully we can work together to bring a championship to Prince George."

The awards season is not yet over for Connolly, who is up against a pair of Europeans for the CHL rookie of the year award. 19-year old forward Evgeny Grachev of the Brampton Battalion earned the OHL rookie of the year prize after posting 40 goals and 80 points this season and was a third round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL entry draft. The QMJHL's top rookie is 18-year old defenceman Dmitry Kulikov, who posted 12 goals and 62 points in 57 games for the Drummondville Voltigeurs and had a plus/minus rating of plus-34. Kulikov also garnered the OHL's defenceman of the year award. The CHL awards will be presented during the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec, May 23.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2009


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