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).

Although he is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2024 NHL entry draft, he has been involved in multiple controversies that may impact his draft position.

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.

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

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.

At the 2024 World U18 Championship, Connelly scored a Michigan goal against Latvia.

The Americans would go on to earn a silver medal.

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, but he denied the allegation and the suspension was overturned when the league could not find any evidence that the incident occurred.