63(C) Aaron Connoly

The Invicta Dynamos are proud to announce the signing of 30-year-old forward Aaron Connolly for the upcoming 2024/25 season. A product of the Invicta Junior system, he now returns to his hometown club where it all began for him at the young age of 6.

After representing Invicta at all junior levels, Connolly made his Dynamos debut aged just 13.  Playing 5 games, scoring 1 goal and 4 assists he contributed to our ENL South Championship title success in the 06/07 season, the first of many titles he would amass across his prolific career to date.

From 2008-2011 Aaron spent his teen years in Chelmsford playing u16, u18 and with the Chieftains at ENL level. In his final season there he also represented the Slough Jets in the English Premier League and was picked for GB u18s for the World Junior Championships (WJCs). Despite his young age he amassed 45 goals and 30 assists for 75pts in 66 games. During this time, he played he was involved in the Chieftains ENL South title and the Jets EPL Playoff Championship.

Connolly then moved across to the Slough Jets full time in the 11/12 season, enjoying another successful campaign which culminated in an EPL Playoff Championship. He again represented GB, this time at u18, as an Alternate Captain. In the following season he was promoted to Alternate Captain for the Jets and Captain of the same GB team for the next WJCs. Across the duration of his time in Slough he totalled 30 goals, 25 assists for 55 points.

Aaron made the switch to the Basingstoke Bison for the 13/14 season, the first of five seasons that he would spend with the club. In all of which he wore a letter; A in his first two seasons and the C for the following three. Highlights in his time with the Bison would include the Premier League Cup and Playoff double in his first year, the 15/16 EPL League title in his first year as Captain and the NIHL South 1 League and Playoff double in the 17/18 season, again as Captain. In 251 games with the Bison he put home 118 goals, 111 assists equalling 229 points.

Since 18/19 Connolly has Captained the Raiders IHC organisation. Leading that team across 5 seasons, during which he scored 154 goals and 144 assists totalling 298 points in Romford. The 22/23 season being his most productive yet in front of net in his entire professional career.

Returning back to his childhood club, Aaron had this to say “Invicta has always held a special place in my heart, and after meeting with Karl a few weeks ago, I knew it was time for me to come back. It’s an exciting team being built, the foundations are in place, and it’s just something I want to be a part of.  The club has a very rich history and I hope I can help the team to more success. It’s still early in the summer but I’m excited to pull that jersey on again and get started”.

 “In my original plan when I took the head coach role, I had an ambition to bring Aaron home here to Invicta. I knew that a player of his calibre and professionalism would propel us forward as an organisation. I’ve known him since he was a young lad and of course we’ve watched him have an outstanding career, which is far from over. We spoke following the season, and I laid out my plans for the team and it was great to hear the enthusiasm he has towards our goals. Aaron matches my ambition, and I cannot wait to work with him across this season to keep taking steps forward.  Of course he comes not only with huge offensive threat, but he’s an honest hockey player that plays 2 way and his leadership will be invaluable come September.  So, he’s back where it all began all those years ago and we’re delighted to create the next chapter in our story together.”
Head Coach – Karl Lennon