Over the past two years, while playing for Fargo-Moorhead in the North American Hockey League, Chris Connolly rarely made it home to watch his younger brother Jack play hockey for Duluth Marshall.
Chris, now an Omaha (Neb.) Lancers forward, said he caught only three or four of his alma mater's games after graduating, and didn't get to witness much of his brother's development that led the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Stampede of the United States Hockey League to draft Jack with the seventh overall pick this past May.
Now that both are playing in the USHL, Chris and Jack get to see plenty of each other. And coaches are taking notice of the Connolly brothers, who squared off for the fourth time this season Saturday night in Sioux Falls. The host Stampede got a 4-2 victory, with Jack scoring once and assisting on another goal. Chris had one assist.
"Their best assets are from the neck up," Lancers coach Mike Hastings said. "They are both pretty elusive, and you don't see them get lined up too often. They have the ability to find the open man and remind you of throwback players in that you can see the love they have for playing the game."
Chris, who had both of Omaha's goals in a 2-0 win at Sioux City on New Year's Eve, said he knew his brother would go high in last year's draft because he already had committed to play college hockey at Minnesota Duluth and wasn't picked in the Futures Draft.
ADVERTISEMENT
Four rounds and 42 picks later, Chris was drafted by Omaha, but not before the Lancers asked the Boston University recruit if it was OK that he wouldn't be playing with his brother.
"It's nice being away and doing my own thing," Chris said. "I don't have to be the big brother, and it's good for him because, especially in the first year, he gets away from home and it lets him create his own path."
Hastings said Jack was drafted before Chris because he was getting more exposure and press clippings at the time for his commitment to the hometown college.
"Chris had been successful in the NAHL for two years," Hastings said. "All he needed was an opportunity."
When the Connollys get together, it's nearly a lock that one will have a hand in taking down the other's squad. Chris has two goals and three assists in the four meetings, while Jack has four goals and three assists. But in the category that matters most, Sioux Falls is 3-1 against Omaha,
The brothers also are among the league's scoring leaders, with Jack's 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) putting him third place and Chris in 11th with 30 (14 goals, 16 assists).
Surprisingly, the brothers have donned the same uniform only twice. The first was when they were young, and the last time came in Chris' senior season with the Hilltoppers, when Jack was a sophomore.
Their parents have made it to each of the contests between the two, and have Lancers and Stampede apparel in their closets.
ADVERTISEMENT
"They just try to sit by themselves and keep quiet because it's tough for them," Chris said.
Before his Sioux City explosion on Dec. 31, Chris was approached by Hastings with a pep talk.
"He's slowed down a little bit, and I talked to him and told him he has the ability to be the best player on the ice every night," Hastings said.
