University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass’ Chaffee, Leonard And Pritchard Named Walter Brown Award Semifinalists
February 04, 2019 | Hockey
The three Minutemen forwards are among 20 candidates for the Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey forwards Mitchell Chaffee, John Leonard and Jacob Pritchard are among 20 semifinalists for the 67th Walter Brown Award, the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston announced on Monday. Presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England, the Walter Brown Award is the nation's oldest nationally-recognized college hockey honor.
Chaffee, a sophomore from Rockford, Michigan, has already surpassed his freshman year scoring as he currently leads the Minutemen with 15 goals to go along with 14 assists and 29 points through 24 games. He his third on the team in scoring and third in Hockey East, while sitting tied for the league lead in goals, tied for third in power play points (11), tied for third in game-winning goals (3) and tied for eighth in plus minus (+14). He has eight multi-point games on the year and 20 points (8g, 12a) in 14 Hockey East contests.
Leonard, who led UMass in scoring as a freshman in 2017-18, has equaled his points total from his rookie campaign (28) in just 24 games on nine goals and 19 assists. He is tied for fourth in Hockey East in points, tied for third in assists (19), second in power play points (13) and third in faceoff percentage (.596). The Amherst, Massachusetts, native leads Hockey East with 23 points in league play, as well.
In his final season of eligibility after joining the Minutemen as a graduate transfer from St. Lawrence this past fall, Pritchard is enjoying a career year, demolishing his previous career best of 22 points in 33 games with the Saints in 2016-17. The Macomb, Michigan, native is eighth in the nation in scoring at 1.28 points per-game and leads Hockey East with 32 points through 25 contests. He leads the league in power play points (19) and power play goals (7) and is tied for fourth in the league in goals (13) and tied for third in assists (19). The senior boasts a team-high 10 multi-point games on the year and holds an active five-game point streak.
The Gridiron Club will announce the finalists and winner of the 67th Walter Brown Award in March, following league playoffs and before the start of NCAA Tournament play. The award will be presented to the winner at the New England College Hockey Writers' Dinner in April.
Chaffee, a sophomore from Rockford, Michigan, has already surpassed his freshman year scoring as he currently leads the Minutemen with 15 goals to go along with 14 assists and 29 points through 24 games. He his third on the team in scoring and third in Hockey East, while sitting tied for the league lead in goals, tied for third in power play points (11), tied for third in game-winning goals (3) and tied for eighth in plus minus (+14). He has eight multi-point games on the year and 20 points (8g, 12a) in 14 Hockey East contests.
Leonard, who led UMass in scoring as a freshman in 2017-18, has equaled his points total from his rookie campaign (28) in just 24 games on nine goals and 19 assists. He is tied for fourth in Hockey East in points, tied for third in assists (19), second in power play points (13) and third in faceoff percentage (.596). The Amherst, Massachusetts, native leads Hockey East with 23 points in league play, as well.
In his final season of eligibility after joining the Minutemen as a graduate transfer from St. Lawrence this past fall, Pritchard is enjoying a career year, demolishing his previous career best of 22 points in 33 games with the Saints in 2016-17. The Macomb, Michigan, native is eighth in the nation in scoring at 1.28 points per-game and leads Hockey East with 32 points through 25 contests. He leads the league in power play points (19) and power play goals (7) and is tied for fourth in the league in goals (13) and tied for third in assists (19). The senior boasts a team-high 10 multi-point games on the year and holds an active five-game point streak.
The Gridiron Club will announce the finalists and winner of the 67th Walter Brown Award in March, following league playoffs and before the start of NCAA Tournament play. The award will be presented to the winner at the New England College Hockey Writers' Dinner in April.
Players Mentioned
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