Prince George- 18-year old forward Brett Connolly has been selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.  The Lightning chose Connolly in the first round, 6^th overall.

Connolly, a 6’3”, 195 pound right winger from Prince George, finished his second season with the Cougars, scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 16 Western Hockey League regular season games in 2009-10.  Connolly, the Cougars first pick, 10^th overall, in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, earned the CHL Rookie of the Year award in 2008-09, after scoring 30 goals and 60 points, both Cougars rookie records.  Connolly also tied Nick Drazenovic’s Cougars rookie record with 30 assists.  This past April, Connolly placed third among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final draft rankings.

“It’s a huge honor to be selected in the draft and I’m really excited about becoming a member of the Lightning,” said Connolly.  “It’s a dream come true and I’m working hard to be ready for training camp in the fall.”

Connolly becomes the fourth Prince George Cougars player, and first forward, to be selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, joining Eric Brewer (1997, NYI), Dan Hamhuis (2001, NSH) and Ty Wishart (2006, SJ).  Connolly is the second Prince George Cougars player to be selected in the top 10 and only Brewer went higher in the NHL Draft, going 5^th overall to the New York Islanders in 1997.  Connolly is the 28^th Prince George Cougars player to be picked in the NHL Draft since 1995.