Edinburgh Capitals are delighted to announce the new signing of defenceman Ross Connolly for the 2024-25 SNL campaign.
The 26-year-old blueliner arrives at the club having played 43 games in the NIHL with Solway Sharks last season, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist, picking up 25 penalty minutes.
Ross will bring a wealth of experience to our back end. He started his junior career with Paisley before heading to Dundee, North Ayr then Solway. He would then step up to the NIHL 1 in the 2014-15 season with the Sharks. That summer he would head off to Canada and signed with Tottenham Steam in the GMHL (Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League). He only played 2 games with the Ontario-based club before signing with Temiscaming Titans who are based in Quebec but play in the same league. In 25 games for the Titans, he picked up 12 assists.
He briefly started the season with the Titans the following year before returning to Britain and joined the London Raiders in the NIHL 1. It was here he would play alongside his older brother John. John is not unfamiliar in these parts having iced with the Caps back in the Elite League days when he was on the roster in 2009-10.
Season 2017-18 saw the former Scottish Junior Internationalist on his travels once again this time to the US where he signed with Casper Coyotes of the WSHL (Western State Hockey League). He would play 17 games picking up 5 assists before leaving to again return to England. Invicta Dynamos was the next stop for 9 games.
For the next 4 campaigns, he would remain in England spending a season at Whitley Warriors, a season and a half at Raiders IHC before covid hit and then it was onto Telford Tigers. He would become an NIHL Champion as a Tiger in season 2021-22. Two former Caps would be on the roster with him in Scott McKenzie and Jason Silverthorn.
At the start of 2023-24 he would ice 16 times for Hull Seahawks in the NIHL. Mid-season he finally returned home to Scotland after 9 years away. He joined Solway Sharks and became a part of the quadruple haul that the Sharks would go on to win. As mentioned previously last season saw him back once again in the NIHL with the Sharks.
Standing at 6ft 2 inches, the Glasgow-born Dman will bring a physical presence to our defensive unit. Ross had this to say on his arrival, “I’m looking forward to being able to continue playing at a professionally run set up due to having to drop out the NIHL because of work commitments.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Caps fans from Lynchy and can’t wait to play in front of you and witness it firsthand.
I’m hoping I can come in and help the team push on to even more success this year and compete for every bit of silverware. See you all in September!”
Head Coach Steven Lynch is excited to have Ross onboard, “When I heard a few weeks ago that Ross was potentially available, I knew straight away that he was a player that could improve our defensive group and therefore help make us a better team.
The texts and conversations that I’ve had with him were really easy. He’s heard about the good set-up we have here and our great fan base and he wanted to come and sample it for himself.
He’s got experience of playing abroad when he was younger and spent time with a few NIHL teams so he knows how to play the game.
He’s now starting a career in the family business, so he was looking for a team where he can feel at home, challenge himself, and aspire to winning things. We’re delighted that he’s joining the Caps.”
More signings will be released soon. As always stay tuned to the team media pages for the news first.
LET’S GO CAPITALS!
Image: Solway Sharks
