University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS LOWELL ATHLETICS
Leonard Honored By New England Hockey Writers Association
April 14, 2020 | Hockey
The Amherst native was tabbed a New England All-Star and the co-winner of the Herb Gallagher Award as New England’s best forward.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts hockey junior forward John Leonard was tabbed the co-winner of the Herb Gallagher Award (Best Forward) and earned a spot on the New England Men's Division I All-Star Team, the New England Hockey Writers Association announced on Tuesday.
It marks the second straight year that a member of the Minutemen has received the Herb Gallagher Award as Mitchell Chaffee was the 2019 recipient and the third straight season that a UMass player has garnered one of the NEHWA's major awards. Cale Makar was the 2018 winner of the George C. Carens Award as the New England Rookie of the Year.
Recently tabbed a First-Team CCM/AHCA Hockey All-American, Leonard was just the third Minuteman in program history to be named a Top Ten Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award this spring. The Amherst, Massachusetts native led the nation in goals (27) this season and paced UMass with 37 points. He chipped in 10 assists and was +17 in 33 games, as well.
The First-Team Hockey East All-Star's 21 tallies in league play 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 also became UMass' first-ever winner of the Hockey East PNC Bank Three Stars Award.
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. 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.
A three-time Hockey East Player of the Week selection this season, Leonard etched his name into the UMass record book in 2019-20. He 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.
After recently signing with the San Jose Sharks, Leonard finishes his UMass career 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).
For continued coverage of UMass Hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
It marks the second straight year that a member of the Minutemen has received the Herb Gallagher Award as Mitchell Chaffee was the 2019 recipient and the third straight season that a UMass player has garnered one of the NEHWA's major awards. Cale Makar was the 2018 winner of the George C. Carens Award as the New England Rookie of the Year.
Recently tabbed a First-Team CCM/AHCA Hockey All-American, Leonard was just the third Minuteman in program history to be named a Top Ten Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award this spring. The Amherst, Massachusetts native led the nation in goals (27) this season and paced UMass with 37 points. He chipped in 10 assists and was +17 in 33 games, as well.
The First-Team Hockey East All-Star's 21 tallies in league play 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 also became UMass' first-ever winner of the Hockey East PNC Bank Three Stars Award.
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. 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.
A three-time Hockey East Player of the Week selection this season, Leonard etched his name into the UMass record book in 2019-20. He 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.
After recently signing with the San Jose Sharks, Leonard finishes his UMass career 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).
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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