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University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS ATHLETICS
Leonard Agrees To Join San Jose Sharks Organization
March 31, 2020 | Hockey
The Hobey Baker Top Ten Finalist finishes his UMass career fourth all-time in career goals, eighth in points.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey junior forward John Leonard has agreed to join the San Jose Sharks organization, foregoing his final year of collegiate eligibility, the team announced on Tuesday. The 2020 Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist was selected by the Sharks in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, 182nd overall.
"John Leonard grew tremendously as a hockey player this past season, becoming the top goal scorer in the country, and put himself in a position to sign with the San Jose Sharks," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "John has been a critical piece in the development of our hockey program and our culture. His growth as a player mirrored the growth of our team and we are excited to watch him play in the NHL with three other UMass players who came to campus at the same time. Cale Makar, Mario Ferraro, Mitchell Chaffee and John Leonard were all part of our first recruiting class and, after three years, they are all signed to NHL contracts. John is an elite goal scorer and we are excited to cheer him on and watch him score goals at the next level."
Leonard leaves UMass with his name etched throughout the program's record book, ranking fourth all-time in program history for career goals (56), tied for fifth in career plus/minus (30), tied for eighth in career points (105) and tied for eighth in career power-play goals (16) over 106 career contests. This season the Amherst, Massachusetts native set the program's single-season Division I era goals record, which ranks fourth all-time, and became just the sixth member of the 50-goal, 100-point club in UMass history, the first to reach the milestone as a junior in the Division I era. Leonard knocked off both the single-season (6) and career records for game-winning goals (10), as well.
Leonard led the nation with 27 goals in 2019-20, and paced the Minutemen with 37 points. He had 10 assists to his credit and was +17 in 33 games with five power-play goals.
The First-Team Hockey East All-Star's 21 goals in league games were not only a program record, but marked the most by any Hockey East player since Cam Atkinson had 24 for Boston College in 2010-11. In total, 29 of Leonard's 37 points came in Hockey East contests and included five game-winning goals over 23 league games. He became UMass' first-ever winner of the Hockey East PNC Bank Three Stars Award, as well and was a three-time Hockey East Player of the Week in 2019-20.
Nationally, Leonard also ranked first in goals per-game this season at 0.82, tied for first in game-winning goals with six and was one of just three players to record two hat tricks in 2019-20. He finished in the top-20 in points per-game, coming in at 16th in the nation at a 1.12 clip.
Having a reputation for coming through in the clutch, Leonard led the nation in third period goals (16), third period points (21) and game-winning goals (four) scored in the final frame in 2019-20. He tied for the nation's lead in game-winning goals (six) overall and hat tricks (two) and posted a nation's-best seven multi-goal games, 21 even strength goals and 21 goals in UMass wins.
With UMass ravaged with injuries over the final month of the season to the tune of 26 man-games lost, Leonard put the team on his back, leading the nation with 2.14 points per-game, 1.43 goals per-game and 10 goals since February 1. He also had three-game winners, helping UMass go 5-2-0 over that stretch and secure the No. 2 spot in the Hockey East standings.
For continued coverage of UMass Hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
"John Leonard grew tremendously as a hockey player this past season, becoming the top goal scorer in the country, and put himself in a position to sign with the San Jose Sharks," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "John has been a critical piece in the development of our hockey program and our culture. His growth as a player mirrored the growth of our team and we are excited to watch him play in the NHL with three other UMass players who came to campus at the same time. Cale Makar, Mario Ferraro, Mitchell Chaffee and John Leonard were all part of our first recruiting class and, after three years, they are all signed to NHL contracts. John is an elite goal scorer and we are excited to cheer him on and watch him score goals at the next level."
Leonard leaves UMass with his name etched throughout the program's record book, ranking fourth all-time in program history for career goals (56), tied for fifth in career plus/minus (30), tied for eighth in career points (105) and tied for eighth in career power-play goals (16) over 106 career contests. This season the Amherst, Massachusetts native set the program's single-season Division I era goals record, which ranks fourth all-time, and became just the sixth member of the 50-goal, 100-point club in UMass history, the first to reach the milestone as a junior in the Division I era. Leonard knocked off both the single-season (6) and career records for game-winning goals (10), as well.
Leonard led the nation with 27 goals in 2019-20, and paced the Minutemen with 37 points. He had 10 assists to his credit and was +17 in 33 games with five power-play goals.
The First-Team Hockey East All-Star's 21 goals in league games were not only a program record, but marked the most by any Hockey East player since Cam Atkinson had 24 for Boston College in 2010-11. In total, 29 of Leonard's 37 points came in Hockey East contests and included five game-winning goals over 23 league games. He became UMass' first-ever winner of the Hockey East PNC Bank Three Stars Award, as well and was a three-time Hockey East Player of the Week in 2019-20.
Nationally, Leonard also ranked first in goals per-game this season at 0.82, tied for first in game-winning goals with six and was one of just three players to record two hat tricks in 2019-20. He finished in the top-20 in points per-game, coming in at 16th in the nation at a 1.12 clip.
Having a reputation for coming through in the clutch, Leonard led the nation in third period goals (16), third period points (21) and game-winning goals (four) scored in the final frame in 2019-20. He tied for the nation's lead in game-winning goals (six) overall and hat tricks (two) and posted a nation's-best seven multi-goal games, 21 even strength goals and 21 goals in UMass wins.
With UMass ravaged with injuries over the final month of the season to the tune of 26 man-games lost, Leonard put the team on his back, leading the nation with 2.14 points per-game, 1.43 goals per-game and 10 goals since February 1. He also had three-game winners, helping UMass go 5-2-0 over that stretch and secure the No. 2 spot in the Hockey East standings.
For continued coverage of UMass Hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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