The peculiar reason Brendan Connolly's new boss gave for signing the Sheffield Steelers star

Connolly has played in the EIHL since 2017 for Belfast Giants and Glasgow Clan before his highly successful single season with Sheffield.

Aaron Fox badly wanted to have him in his Steelers' line up for season 2020-21, but coronavirus put an end to that.

Instead, the 35-year-old firebrand signed for Greenville Swamp Rabbits in South Carolina, United States.

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He is used to the patch - Connolly ranks second all-time in scoring in Greenville hockey history after previous spells there.

But his recent return was prompted by new coach and old adversary Andrew Lord, who represented Cardiff Devils from 2013 until earlier this year.

"I've played and coached against Brendan for years, and he is a player that drives you insane to play or coach against," Lord told Greenville's website.

"His compete level is extremely high and he plays right on the line game in and game out," said Lord.

"This is a great veteran forward signing for our hockey organisation. Brendan brings a wealth of experience, a very well-rounded game and a lot of offensive ability," said Lord, who is the same age as the forward to help Sheffield to a Challenge Cup final win over Lord's Devils in March.

"Brendan will push everyone around him to bring their very best on a nightly basis.

"In addition to his compete level, he has a great overall skill set and has produced everywhere he has played. Brendan is extremely happy to be back in Greenville, where he previously had three great seasons."

Connolly played three seasons for the Greenville Road Warriors (2010–13.)

In 150 games there, he scored 166 points.

"Greenville was a good fit for me," said Steelers' top points scorer, who unlike Robert Dowd and Marco Vallerand has not signed a post-covid lockdown extension in South Yorkshire.

"I always loved playing in Greenville, loved the organisation and loved the fans. I knew if I got another opportunity here, I'd take it.

"Knowing Andrew Lord's track record, how he was able to put together and build an organisation like Cardiff into a powerhouse in the Elite League, you just see his dedication and his work ethic on display. It's contagious and it's something you want to be a part of."

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Greenville's website acknowledges the player's edginess - a quality that many Steelers fans loved to observe, even if the EIHl officials did not.

"Never afraid to get in the mix, Connolly has 1,280 career penalty minutes, including a career high mark of 186 during the 2016–17 season," says the site.

The Swamp Rabbits start their ECHL season on December 12 at South Carolina Stingrays, before a trip to the Jacksonville Ice Men.

Then they host their opening night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena the following weekend against the Florida Everblades.

*Defenceman Mathieu Gagnon, formerly of Nottingham Panthers and Manchester Storm, has signed for Wichita Thunder in the ECHL.

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