University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 8
Providence, R.I.
7 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
18-9-2, 11-6-2HEAM
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at
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#10 Providence
14-9-5, 8-8-2HEAM
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Massachusetts
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Providence
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Photo by: Ken Jancef
Leonard Lifts No. 8 Hockey To 5-1 Win At No. 10 Providence
February 08, 2020 | Hockey
The Amherst native logs a career-high four points, including his first career hat trick as the Minutemen complete a weekend sweep of the Friars.
AMHERST, Mass. – On the back of a career night for junior John Leonard, which included his first career hat trick, No. 8 Massachusetts Hockey upended Providence, 5-1 at Schneider Arena on Saturday to complete the weekend sweep of the Friars. With the win, the Minutemen improve to 18-9-2 on the season and 11-6-2 in Hockey East, while Providence falls to 14-9-5, 8-8-2 in league action.
"We were expecting a hard-fought, low-scoring game and, if you take John Leonard out of the game, that's probably what it would've been," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "John was an absolute star tonight. All four of his points were highlight level. We challenged him a couple weeks ago and he's responding accordingly. He single-handedly won that game in very tough building to play in. Our guys competed hard this weekend and found a way to come out on top both nights."
Leonard opened the scoring 13:11 into the first period, splitting a pair of Friars to skate in on netminder Michael Lackey alone for the tally. Freshman Zac Jones and sophomore Colin Felix both collected assists on the play.
Then at the 14:53 mark in the second period, Leonard picked up a shorthanded goal to bring the score to 2-0. After receiving the puck from Felix, Leonard circled through the neutral zone before entering the Providence end and ripping a wrister from the slot that tucked inside the right post.
Before the close of the frame, junior Oliver Chau increased the lead to 3-0, beating out an icing and banking the puck off a Friar and past Lackey from the corner at 18:37. Felix and goaltender Matt Murray were credited with the assists.
Providence cut its deficit to 3-1 with Jack Dugan and Michael Callahan setting up Tyce Thompson's power-play strike 8:49 into the third.
However, Leonard was there once again to quell any hopes of a Friars' rally, skating end-to-end and beating a defender before kicking the puck to his stick blade to finish off his hat trick at 14:33 with assists from Jones and sophomore Ty Farmer.
Senior Jack Suter then capped the scoring at 16:03 with a power-play goal set up by Leonard and Jones, redirected past Lackey at the doorstep.
Providence edged UMass in shots, 22-20, while the Minutemen were 1-for-4 on the power play and the Friars went 1-for-6. Murray totaled 21 saves for UMass and Lackey logged 15 stops for Providence.
Leonard's three goals brought his season total to 20, becoming UMass' first 20-goal scorer since 2009-10. He also broke the program single-season record for goals scored by a junior, surpassing UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck's 17 in 2002-03. Felix and Jones contributed three assists apiece, both setting new career single-game bests.
The Minutemen will return to action on Friday, February 21, when the squad will travel to UMass Lowell for a 7:15 p.m. matchup with the River Hawks.
"We were expecting a hard-fought, low-scoring game and, if you take John Leonard out of the game, that's probably what it would've been," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "John was an absolute star tonight. All four of his points were highlight level. We challenged him a couple weeks ago and he's responding accordingly. He single-handedly won that game in very tough building to play in. Our guys competed hard this weekend and found a way to come out on top both nights."
Leonard opened the scoring 13:11 into the first period, splitting a pair of Friars to skate in on netminder Michael Lackey alone for the tally. Freshman Zac Jones and sophomore Colin Felix both collected assists on the play.
Then at the 14:53 mark in the second period, Leonard picked up a shorthanded goal to bring the score to 2-0. After receiving the puck from Felix, Leonard circled through the neutral zone before entering the Providence end and ripping a wrister from the slot that tucked inside the right post.
Before the close of the frame, junior Oliver Chau increased the lead to 3-0, beating out an icing and banking the puck off a Friar and past Lackey from the corner at 18:37. Felix and goaltender Matt Murray were credited with the assists.
Providence cut its deficit to 3-1 with Jack Dugan and Michael Callahan setting up Tyce Thompson's power-play strike 8:49 into the third.
However, Leonard was there once again to quell any hopes of a Friars' rally, skating end-to-end and beating a defender before kicking the puck to his stick blade to finish off his hat trick at 14:33 with assists from Jones and sophomore Ty Farmer.
Senior Jack Suter then capped the scoring at 16:03 with a power-play goal set up by Leonard and Jones, redirected past Lackey at the doorstep.
Providence edged UMass in shots, 22-20, while the Minutemen were 1-for-4 on the power play and the Friars went 1-for-6. Murray totaled 21 saves for UMass and Lackey logged 15 stops for Providence.
Leonard's three goals brought his season total to 20, becoming UMass' first 20-goal scorer since 2009-10. He also broke the program single-season record for goals scored by a junior, surpassing UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck's 17 in 2002-03. Felix and Jones contributed three assists apiece, both setting new career single-game bests.
The Minutemen will return to action on Friday, February 21, when the squad will travel to UMass Lowell for a 7:15 p.m. matchup with the River Hawks.
Team Stats
UMASS
PC
Shots
20
22
PPG
1
1
SHG
1
0
Penalties
9
8
Penalty Mins
18
24
Faceoffs Won
24
44
Game Leaders
+/-
+3
Goals
3
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
3
+/-
+2
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
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