Mammoth brings back striker Connor Kelly on three-year contract

July 2, 2024 – National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth Press Release

DENVER – The Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) announced today that the organization has signed forward Connor Kelly to a three-year contract, effective through the 2024-25 season.

The American prospect was originally selected in the third round (33rd overall) of the 2018 NLL Entry Draft by the San Diego Seals, but was eventually traded to the New York Riptide and later to the Albany FireWolves, while he further developed his indoor game.

After Kelly recorded a personal-best 67 points (35g, 32a) with the FireWolves during the 2022-23 season, the Mammoth were able to acquire the skilled scorer in last fall’s 2023 NLL Entry Draft in exchange for the organization’s first-round selection (14th overall).

While he fell just short of matching his personal scoring totals from his first season with the Mammoth, with 64 points (39 goals, 25 assists), the 29-year-old finisher still managed to set a new personal best, with 39 goals, his best performance in the NLL.

He finished just behind 2023-24 MVP Eli McLaughlin in total team scoring, but he did produce the team’s second-most conversions (39 to McLaughlin’s 43). At the same time, he still ranked in the team’s top five assist-makers, finishing the season tied with Zed Williams for fourth-most with 25.

Kelly set a new single-game scoring record on February 9 in Fort Worth, Texas, bettering each of his previous seven-point performances. He had eight points (4g, 4a) against Panther City Lacrosse Club, the most notable of his nine performances with four or more points.

He’s just 12 points shy of 200, but he has a career-high 188 points (98 goals, 90 assists), 204 loose balls, nine caused turnovers and 22 penalty minutes in what will be his second campaign in Colorado and fifth NLL season overall.

Kelly has built a reputation as an all-around offensive threat through the field and continues to play in the summers with the Philadelphia Waterdogs in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), where he plays alongside teammates Dillon Ward and AJ Mercurio of Mammoth.

The two-time PLL champion (2019, 2022) and three-time PLL All-Star (2018, 2022, 2023) has scored at least one goal in each of the four games he has played in this summer, including a blistering three-goal start on June 1. He now has seven points (7 goals, 0 assists) through four games this season and is still tied with Zach Currier as the team’s third-most prolific scorer.

With 139 points (74g, 16 2-pt, 33a) in 60 career PLL appearances, the decorated Easton, Connecticut prospect has proven he can excel at multiple levels and formats of the game. That’s great news for LOUD HOUSE fans, who will be cheering on the right-handed scorer at Ball Arena for years to come!

Mammoth fans can follow coloradomammoth.com and Colorado Mammoth social media throughout the summer as the team continues to shape its roster for the upcoming 2024-25 NLL season.

And with the 2024 NLL Entry Draft quickly approaching this fall, there are plenty of reasons to stay tuned to the burgundy and black team!

• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board…

The opinions expressed in this press release are those of the organization issuing the press release and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.