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Heat's Connelly wins fastest skater contest during AHL all-star festivities

A victory in the fastest skater contest by newcomer Brian Connelly highlighted the AHL all-star festivities for the Abbotsford Heat.
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Recently acquired Abbotsford Heat defenceman Brian Connelly won his heat in the puck control relay and won the fastest skater event at the AHL all-star skills competition on Sunday.

A victory in the fastest skater contest by newcomer Brian Connelly highlighted the AHL all-star festivities from the Abbotsford Heat's perspective.

Connelly, acquired in a trade last Friday that saw the Calgary Flames ship centre Brendan Morrison to the Chicago Blackhawks, wore his new Heat jersey for the first time during the skills competition in Atlantic City, N.J. on Sunday. The offensive-minded blueliner clocked a time of 13.851 seconds in the fastest skater event, and won his heat in the puck control relay.

Two of Connelly's new Abbotsford teammates, Clay Wilson and Krys Kolanos, also participated in the all-star festivities. Among other events in the skills competition, Wilson finished fourth in the fastest skater contest (14.060 seconds), while Kolanos scored two goals on five shots in the rapid fire event.

Kolanos and Connelly both registered assists in Monday's all-star game, helping the Western Conference rally from a four-goal deficit to beat the East 8-7 in a shootout.

• The Heat open a three-game road trip on Thursday, when they visit the Rochester Americans.

Heat forward Krys Kolanos tests Adirondack Phantoms goalie Michael Leighton in the breakaway relay during the AHL all-star skills competition.