Trevor Connelly Sustains Injury In Tri-City's Loss On Tuesday (Updates)
We will have to wait to see if Connelly narrowly avoided a serious injury
The Tri-City Storm may have lost more than just the game on Tuesday. Star forward and top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Trevor Connelly appeared to have sustained a significant injury with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.
Connelly, who checked in as the No. 5-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, was sprung free on a partial breakaway and looked to have been hooked on his shot attempt that sailed wide of the net. No call was made on the play, but the 17-year-old’s momentum sent him uncontrollably into the goal post.
Here was the injury:
As play continued, Connelly made an attempt to get back up, but it was clear that something was seriously wrong. He lay helplessly behind the Sioux Falls net, watching the Stampede tie the game at the other end. While the Herd celebrated, the Storm's attention was fixated on their star forward, who remained down on the ice.
Connelly had to be helped off the ice by the training staff and was struggling to put any weight on his right leg. He did not return for the overtime period.
Prior to that, the Providence College commit engineered one of his best games of the season. Connelly extended his point streak to a season-best eight games, giving Tri-City a 2-1 lead early in the second period on an impressive toe-drag through the slot before ripping a shot into the Sioux Falls net.
Moments before his injury, he added another highlight-reel goal to his resume, powering his way through the Stampede defense before firing a sharp-angle shot that somehow found the back of the net.
Losing Connelly would be a significant blow for Tri-City, as he has been a primary source of offense for the Storm.
Since Thanksgiving, he has been red-hot, accumulating 11 goals and 23 points over a stretch of 14 games. Overall, he has 15 goals and 28 assists this season, making him the third-highest scorer in the USHL with 43 points.
We will have to wait and see if Connelly narrowly avoided a serious injury or if he could be out for an extended period of time.
[UPDATE 1/31]
Hearing that Trevor Connelly (2024) narrowly avoided a serious injury, a source confirms. The hope is he plays this weekend, perhaps sitting out Friday's game but playing on both Saturday and Sunday. Very good news for one of the top 2024 NHL Draft prospects.
[UPDATE 2/1]
Another source has confirmed the x-rays on Connelly were negative, which is good news that nothing was broken. Potential return to the ice on Sunday. Obviously, Tri-City is being cautious here, as they should. I would not be at all surprised if the Storm give him the weekend off. We will see when the linecharts are released.
(Videos courtesy of FloHockey)