Overcoming a slow start to deliver his most productive hockey season in six as a pro, Alaska Aces winger and leading scorer Brendan Connolly on Thursday was voted All-ECHL Second Team.
The all-league award is the first of Connolly's career and marks the fifth straight season, and 10th season in Alaska's dozen on the circuit, at least one Ace has been voted to the all-league first or second team.
Connolly, 29, scored just one goal in his first 13 games following offseason wrist surgery, and that proved a barren beginning for a guy who scored 22 or more goals in each of the previous four ECHL seasons.
Yet Connolly has easily reached career highs in all three scoring categories to lead the Aces in all three with 31-46—77 totals in 61 games, which through Wednesday tied him for third in the league in scoring. All that came despite missing nine straight games in February and March with an upper-body injury.
The ECHL First Team and Second Team were determined in a vote of league coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media.
Connolly, who last season helped the Aces to the third Kelly Cup in franchise history, has generated five multiple-goal games, including two hat tricks, and furnished 23 multiple-point games. He also leads Alaska in power-play goals and power-play points with 9-12—21 totals on the man advantage.
Connolly this season furnished an eight-game point streak and a seven-game point streak. He also kills penalties and has amassed a plus-13 rating this season.
The Aces on Friday night entertain the Ontario Reign, who beat them 4-1 Wednesday. Alaska remains three points behind Utah for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division and each team has just two regular-season games remaining.
For more on the All-ECHL teams, go to adn.com/hockey-blog.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
Here are the Alaska Aces players who have received All-ECHL First- or Second-Team honors in the last 12 seasons:
ALL-ECHL FIRST TEAM
Season Player Position
2014 Peter Sivak Wing
2012 Bryan Miller Defense
2011 Wes Goldie Wing
2011 Gerald Coleman Goaltender
2009 J.P. Lamoureux Goaltender
2008 Josh Soares Center/Wing
2008 Peter Metcalf Defense
2007 Peter Metcalf Defense
2006 Alex Leavitt Center
2006 Ryan Gaucher Defense
2006 Matt Underhill Goaltender
2005 Scott Gomez Center
2005 Chris Minard Center
ALL-ECHL SECOND TEAM
Season Player Position
2015 Brendan Connolly Wing
2013 Nick Mazzolini Center
2013 Mark Guggenberger Goaltender
2012 Dan Kissel Center/Wing
2011 Bryan Miller Defense
2009 Matt Shasby Defense
2007 Matt Shasby Defense
2006 Peter Metcalf Defense