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University of Massachusets Athletics
Chaffee And Leonard Tabbed Semifinalists For Walter Brown Award
February 03, 2020 | Hockey
The juniors are among 23 candidates for the honor, which is presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
BOSTON - University of Massachusetts hockey junior forwards Mitchell Chaffee and John Leonard are among 23 semifinalists for the 68th 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 and Leonard are two of five repeat semifinalists from 2019.
Both nominees for the Hobey Baker Award, as well, Chaffee and Leonard are the top career point producers among UMass' program-transforming junior class that has already seen the highest three-year wins total in program history at 64 and counting. Having appeared in a total of 205 career contests combined, the pair has amassed 185 points over the past three seasons and is the top career goal scoring duo of the entire NCAA Division I junior class. When Chaffee and Leonard are on the scoresheet, it has translated to wins as the Minutemen are 13-4 this year when one or both of them score.
While many critics predicted UMass would see a drop off in success after the departure of 2019 Hobey Baker winner Cale Makar and second-round draft pick Mario Ferraro for the NHL at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign, Chaffee and Leonard have helped the program remain contenders for a second straight NCAA Tournament berth. UMass currently sits ninth in the PairWise rankings and has continued to reside in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls every week this season, ranked No. 8 in both this week.
Through 27 contests thus far, Chaffee leads UMass in points with 29 on 16 goals and 13 assists and is +16 with three power-play tallies, one shorthanded goal and three game winners. More than half his points (17) have come in Hockey East play where the 2019 Hockey East Scoring Champion is averaging 1.00 points per-game. One of just two 2018-19 CCM/ACHA First-Team All-Americans to return to school in 2019-20, Chaffee currently ranks 14th nationally in goals per-game and 27th nationally in points per-game.
Leonard paces the Minutemen in goals with 17 in 26 games and trails only Chaffee in points with 22. The 2018-19 Hockey East Second Team All-Star has already surpassed his previous career high of 16 goals in 40 games as a sophomore and currently ranks tied for eighth in the nation with .65 goals per-game. In Hockey East play, Leonard is tied for first in the league with 11 tallies in 16 contests, a 0.69 goals per-game clip. Overall the Amherst native is tied for 19th in Hockey East in points, is tied for first in goals and game-winning goals (3) and is first in shots on goal (105).
Chaffee and Leonard are already cementing their place in UMass history as both are in the top-10 in career goals by a Minuteman as Chaffee is tied for eighth (47) and Leonard is 10th (46). Chaffee is fourth (+32) all-time in career plus-minus and Leonard is in the top-10 in program history for career power-play goals (14, t-9th), as well.
Earlier this season after notching his 39th and 40th career goals against Boston University, Chaffee matched Greg Mauldin (2001-04) for the quickest to 40 career goals in the program's Hockey East history. Mauldin is the only player to score more goals (48) in a UMass uniform during the team's Hockey East era over his first three seasons than Chaffee and Leonard.
The Gridiron Club will announce the finalists and winner of the 68th 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' Brunch on May 3 at Prince Restaurant in Saugus.
Both nominees for the Hobey Baker Award, as well, Chaffee and Leonard are the top career point producers among UMass' program-transforming junior class that has already seen the highest three-year wins total in program history at 64 and counting. Having appeared in a total of 205 career contests combined, the pair has amassed 185 points over the past three seasons and is the top career goal scoring duo of the entire NCAA Division I junior class. When Chaffee and Leonard are on the scoresheet, it has translated to wins as the Minutemen are 13-4 this year when one or both of them score.
While many critics predicted UMass would see a drop off in success after the departure of 2019 Hobey Baker winner Cale Makar and second-round draft pick Mario Ferraro for the NHL at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign, Chaffee and Leonard have helped the program remain contenders for a second straight NCAA Tournament berth. UMass currently sits ninth in the PairWise rankings and has continued to reside in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls every week this season, ranked No. 8 in both this week.
Through 27 contests thus far, Chaffee leads UMass in points with 29 on 16 goals and 13 assists and is +16 with three power-play tallies, one shorthanded goal and three game winners. More than half his points (17) have come in Hockey East play where the 2019 Hockey East Scoring Champion is averaging 1.00 points per-game. One of just two 2018-19 CCM/ACHA First-Team All-Americans to return to school in 2019-20, Chaffee currently ranks 14th nationally in goals per-game and 27th nationally in points per-game.
Leonard paces the Minutemen in goals with 17 in 26 games and trails only Chaffee in points with 22. The 2018-19 Hockey East Second Team All-Star has already surpassed his previous career high of 16 goals in 40 games as a sophomore and currently ranks tied for eighth in the nation with .65 goals per-game. In Hockey East play, Leonard is tied for first in the league with 11 tallies in 16 contests, a 0.69 goals per-game clip. Overall the Amherst native is tied for 19th in Hockey East in points, is tied for first in goals and game-winning goals (3) and is first in shots on goal (105).
Chaffee and Leonard are already cementing their place in UMass history as both are in the top-10 in career goals by a Minuteman as Chaffee is tied for eighth (47) and Leonard is 10th (46). Chaffee is fourth (+32) all-time in career plus-minus and Leonard is in the top-10 in program history for career power-play goals (14, t-9th), as well.
Earlier this season after notching his 39th and 40th career goals against Boston University, Chaffee matched Greg Mauldin (2001-04) for the quickest to 40 career goals in the program's Hockey East history. Mauldin is the only player to score more goals (48) in a UMass uniform during the team's Hockey East era over his first three seasons than Chaffee and Leonard.
The Gridiron Club will announce the finalists and winner of the 68th 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' Brunch on May 3 at Prince Restaurant in Saugus.
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