What was Trevor Connelly accused of? Revisiting the controversies surrounding Vegas Golden Knights draft pick

The Vegas Golden Knights' #19 overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft forward Trevor Connelly once faced accusations linked to a controversial incident involving a swastika.

The controversy stemmed from a Snapchat post in 2022 when Connelly, then 16, shared a picture of a teammate in a library's children's area with building blocks assembled in a swastika shape, captioned "creations." This led to Connelly's removal from his team, the Long Island Gulls.

Connelly regretted the post, stating that he was unaware of the hurt it could cause. Moreover, there were allegations against Connelly of using a racial slur towards an opponent during a 2021 game.

Although initially suspended, the disciplinary committee for the California Amateur Hockey Association found the allegation unverifiable. The Golden Knights' draft pick denied using racial slurs in an interview with The Athletic.

Additionally, Trevor Connelly's career path raised eyebrows, having been associated with four amateur programs, which is unusual for a player of his caliber. Notably, the 18-year-old's stint at Bishop Kearney, a high school in Rochester, N.Y., with a select hockey program, lasted less than two weeks.

Fans react to Vegas Golden Knights draft pick Trevor Connelly

Trevor Connelly is a strong winger known for his playmaking abilities. He was listed as one of the top American talents before the Golden Knights selected him with the No. 19 overall pick at the 2024 NHL draft in Sphere Las Vegas.

Notably, this marked the first time the Golden Knights picked an American player in the NHL draft since the 2020 draft. Here's what fans on X/Twitter had to say about the pick.

Many raised worries about the player's past character controversies, as one tweeted:

"Omg I’m not very happy. This is incredibly problematic, sure he’s a GREAT pick on a skills level but I’m nervous about his character. Last thing we need is racist people on our team. This team is already having trouble with diversity"

"Looking forward to his growth as a Golden Knight," said one X user.

"As a Storm STH, I’ve watched this kid for 2 years. Y’all just got the most talented player in the draft imo. The off ice issues, shouldn’t be a concern. The on ice issues need more work on. Most should go away as he matures and puts on weight," one opined.

Here are some more reactions on X:

"What happened to our expectations of character in this organization?" another fan chimed in.

"Good job drafting a young Tony DeAngelo," commented another.

Connelly amassed 78 points through 31 goals and 47 assists for the Tri-City Storms in the 2023–24 season.