Champion Player of the Week: Connor Shellenberger

Connor Shellenberger’s five-goal, two-assist, seven-point performance against the Boston Cannons on Friday night earned him Champion Player of the Week honors.

“Tonight is your night,” Atlas head coach Mike Pressler told Shellenberger before the matchup against Boston. “They can’t cover you.”

The former Virginia Cavalier scored on- and off-ball versus the Cannons, putting his full offensive repertoire on display as a dodger, a shooter and a passer.

“Shelly demonstrated that and took a lot of pressure off of Jeff [Teat],” Pressler added. “It was one of the best games in his short career in the PLL.”

Shellenberger’s outing marked the fourth time in his 15-game career that he’s scored seven or more points in a single game. That’s the second-most among players since Shellenberger entered the league, only behind his teammate Teat, who has six. Shellenberger’s five goals were also a career-high, as was his number of shots (10) and touches (48) in a sign of his increased role in the New York offense.

The second year attackman promptly skyrocketed up the league leaderboards, now sitting second in points (25), second in goals (14), fourth in assists (11) and fourth in shooting percentage (46.7%) among players with 10 or more shots this season.

He and the Atlas now stand first place in the Eastern Conference at 4-2 with a +10 scoring differential. They faceoff against the California Redwoods (2-4) on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. ET in an opportunity for New York to further strengthen its spot atop the East.