Sheffield Steelers forward Brendan Connolly off to America

The fiery competitor arrived at Steelers last summer after being a hostile opponent icing for Glasgow Clan and Belfast Giants.

His skill-set and warrior attitude earned him a lot of new Yorkshire fans, especially as he ended up the third top points scorer in the Elite League.

Now, with his EIHL career on hold because of the pandemic he has signed for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in South Carolina, where he will play in the south division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference.

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The team is coached by Andrew Lord.

Ironically, Lord was the coach of the Cardiff Devils' team that Connolly and co. beat in the Challenge Cup final last season.

Connolly scored in that memorable victory.

At 35, 'Conns' becomes the oldest member of an American squad, whose average age is 10 years younger.

Unlike the UK sport, the ECHL season is due to start in early December.

And unlike Marco Vallerand and Robert Dowd, who have signed in Italy, the Canadian has yet to formally extend his deal with Sheffield, once the puck drops again on British ice.

Connolly, who scored 26 goals and 55 points in 48 games for Sheffield, said: "I had an incredible time in Sheffield and certainly hope to return back there one day.

"I appreciate everything the club has done for me and wish everyone at the club and in the fan base well in these tough times.”

His Sheffield coach Aaron Fox is relieved his asset has found employment in a market saturated by unemployed players.

“I am very happy for Conns that he has found a good situation to play in for the upcoming season," said Fox.

“I had a good chat with Andrew Lord before they did a deal and told him how great of a year Conns had and how much I enjoyed coaching him and that this would be a great fit for all parties.

“Conns has also expressed his hope to return here for the 2021-22 season and I have confirmed to him that the feeling is mutual and that’s something we will work on in the coming months.

"I know seeing guys leave the club due to the current situation is hard on everyone involved.

"But as I have mentioned before any hockey is better than no hockey so I am just very grateful to see guys get opportunities.”

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Connolly, Steelers' leading penalty minute taker, might well be able to squeeze out of his contractual commitments to Greenville in the unlikely event that the EIHL manages to stage a tournament in the new year.

If he stays the full term at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, he may end up playing against Sheffield team-mate Tanner Eberle, who is being courted by several ECHL teams.

Meanwhile, Sheffield winger Nikolay Lemtyugov has announced his retirement from the ice, and is pursuing a TV broadcasting career associated with the KHL.

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