1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 50 Wayne Connelly Hockey Card (Front)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee 50 Wayne Connelly Hockey Card (Back)
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Spectacular seasons (36 and 45 goals) with San Francisco of the Western League won Wayne a regular job with the Boston Bruins in 1966-67. He was the hottest scorer in the league for a time in the first half of the season.
En Français
Des saisons sensationnelles (36 et 45 buts) avec San Francisco de la Ligue de l’Ouest permirent à Wayne d’obtenir un emploi régulier avec les Bruins de Boston en 1966-67. Il commença très bien la saison, mais durant la deuxième moitié, son rendement diminua sensiblement. Formé par les Canadiens de Montréal.
Details
The 1967 NHL expansion was great for Wayne Connelly. He became a star upon arrival with the Minnesota North Stars. The Stars made Wayne their seventh pick at the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft, 38th overall. In his first year, he scored 35 goals, not only good for the team lead but the total placed him in a three way tie for fourth in the NHL with Phil Esposito and Norm Ullman.
Six of Wayne’s 35 goals in 1967-68 came in the form of a pair of hat tricks, the first two three goal games in Minnesota North Stars history and the only two for the team in their inaugural NHL season.
The first hat trick came on January 1, 1968 at home against the Philadelphia Flyers. His first two came in the first period, the second on the powerplay after Philly goalie Doug Favell was assessed a minor for holding. In the third period, he added his third goal, the sixth of the game for the North Stars in a 6-4 win.
Bill Masterton assisted on all three of Wayne’s goals that night. Sadly, in the team’s following game against the Oakland Seals, Masterton would suffer a brain injury from hitting his head on the ice after a check. He would never regain consciousness and died two days later.
Connelly’s second hat trick was magical. On March 2, 1968, Minnesota was hosting the powerful Montreal Canadiens. The game ended with a 3-2 North Stars win and Wayne did all the scoring. He put nine of the teams 23 shots on Habs goalie Rogie Vachon. Dick Duff was responsible for Montreal’s two goals. Cesare Maniago was outstanding in net for the North Stars, stopping 33 of 35 shots, including seven by Jean Beliveau.
Between 1960-61 and 1971-72, Wayne Connelly appeared in 543 regular season and 24 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks. He continued with a “second career” in the WHA from 1972-73 to 1976-77, playing 366 regular season and 37 playoff games with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Cleveland Crusaders, Calgary Cowboys and Edmonton Oilers.