Ice hockey: Injury agony for Connolly

Oct 24 2008 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

PAISLEY skater John Connolly has suffered an injury setback following his dream move to American ice hockey club the Texas Renegades.

The former Langcraigs Primary and Gleniffer High School pupil sustained a shoulder injury in his first game for the WSHL Junior A team.

John, pictured right, is now a major doubt for important upcoming games.

It is feared the injury will rule 17-year-old Connolly out of tonight’s match away to the Colorado Outlaws.

His mum Caron said: “John got checked against the plexiglass during the first game of the season and hurt his shoulder.

“He then played in another game the following night and got checked again.

“As a result of that, he couldn’t feel his arm and the team doctor advised going to hospital to have it looked at.

“It turns out John has torn a muscle at the top of his shoulder but, luckily, he didn’t need surgery and, instead, has had to rest it.”

The Outlaws haven’t won a game at home yet this season and are one place below the Renegades in the league.

A couple of wins for Connolly’s team against the Outlaws over the upcoming three-match series, which gets under way tonight, would put clear daylight between the two clubs.

Paisley-born Connolly clinched a move to the Renegades in the summer following a tremendous display for Great Britain during the IIHF World Under-18s Championships in Estonia.

The teenage defenceman played a key role for the Brits as they battled their way to a silver medal at the prestigious tournament.

At the time, Connolly attended Penticton High in Canada, where he played with the Okanagan Hockey Academy Major Midgets side.

But, after his performances at the world championships, he went on trial at a Junior B team in Boston.

He was then lured to the Lone Star State after learning that one of his former coaches at Okanagan is now calling the shots at the Renegades.