Prince George's Brett Connolly has been handed a major award in the American Hockey League.
Connolly, a 20-year-old forward for the Syracuse Crunch, was selected on Friday as the AHL's player of the month for February. In 13 games, he scored seven times and added eight assists for 15 points. Connolly was also responsible defensively and finished the month with a plus-6 rating.
Connolly, whose family moved from Campbell River to Prince George when he was in his minor hockey days, recorded points in 12 of his 13 outings in February and helped his team end the month on an eight-game winning streak. Syracuse is in first place in the AHL's Eastern Conference with a record of 34-15-2-4.
Connolly, who played his junior hockey with the Prince George Cougars, is second in Crunch scoring with 23 goals and 50 points in 54 games. In the league scoring race, he sits fifth, five points behind leader Gustav Nyquist of the Grand Rapid Griffins.
Syracuse lost 3-1 to the Albany Devils on Friday and Connolly had the only goal for his club.
The Crunch is affiliated with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. Connolly was a first-round draft pick (sixth overall) of the Lightning in 2010 and skated in 68 games with the big club last season.
Syracuse is coached by former Prince George resident Jon Cooper.
