Wayne Connelly

Last updated
Wayne Connelly
1962 Topps Wayne Connelly.JPG
Born (1939-12-16) December 16, 1939 (age 85)
Rouyn, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
Minnesota North Stars
Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Vancouver Canucks
Minnesota Fighting Saints
Cleveland Crusaders
Calgary Cowboys
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 19601977

Wayne Francis Connelly (born December 16, 1939) is a Canadian former ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks and finished his career in the World Hockey Association (WHA). Connelly was born in Rouyn, Quebec, and grew up in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.

Contents

Playing career

Connelly played a total of 543 games in the NHL with 133 goals and 174 assists for a total of 307 points. In addition, he played 366 games in the WHA for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Cleveland Crusaders, Calgary Cowboys, and Edmonton Oilers with 167 goals and 162 assists for 329 points.

Connelly won the Red Tilson Award in 1959–60 as the Ontario Hockey League's most outstanding player while with the Peterborough Petes. Connelly scored 235 points in 4 seasons with the Petes (1956–1960).

On November 29, 1961, Connelly scored his first NHL goal in Boston's 7-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. It occurred at Chicago Stadium.

On October 19, 1966, Bobby Orr recorded his first NHL point when he assisted on a powerplay goal by Connelly in Boston's 6–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

In the NHL's first year of expansion, 1967–68, Connelly led the Minnesota North Stars with 35 goals and 21 assists and received the Hockey News West Player of the Year award.

On April 9, 1968, Connelly became the first player to score a goal on a penalty shot in the NHL playoffs when he beat Los Angeles's Terry Sawchuk in a 7–5 victory for his Minnesota North Stars.

Personal life

Connelly and his wife Reg have two children, Ann and Stephen. He lives on Lake Kenogami located near Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario.

Statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1955–56 Kitchener Canucks OHA 9011280000
1956–57 Peterborough Petes OHA521972683
1957–58 Peterborough PetesOHA521819373250116
1958–59 Peterborough PetesOHA5436549046196131938
1958–59 Peterborough Petes M-Cup 12105159
1959–60 Peterborough PetesOHA474834824712109194
1959–60 Montreal Royals EPHL 864104
1960–61 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30000
1960–61 Montreal RoyalsEPHL6428214936
1961–62 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens EPHL72354
1961–62 Boston Bruins NHL618122034
1962–63 Boston BruinsNHL182682
1962–63 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL341024341951452
1963–64 Boston BruinsNHL2623512
1963–64 San Francisco Seals WHL 3312183010112358
1964–65 San Francisco SealsWHL7036367251
1965–66 San Francisco SealsWHL724541861474482
1966–67 Boston BruinsNHL6413173012
1967–68 Minnesota North Stars NHL74352156401483112
1968–69 Minnesota North StarsNHL5514163011
1968–69 Detroit Red Wings NHL1949130
1969–70 Detroit Red WingsNHL762336591041342
1970–71 Detroit Red WingsNHL518132112
1970–71 St. Louis Blues NHL2851621962130
1971–72 St. Louis BluesNHL1555102
1971–72 Vancouver Canucks NHL5314203412
1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 784030701651340
1973–74 Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA78425395161167134
1974–75 Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA763833711612841210
1975–76 Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA5924234719
1975–76 Cleveland Crusaders WHA12527431012
1976–77 Calgary Cowboys WHA2556114
1976–77 Edmonton Oilers WHA381315281850110
WHA totals366167162329933616153116
NHL totals54313317430715624117184