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University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: THOM KENDALL FOR UMASS LOWELL ATHLETICS
Leonard Becomes 18th Minuteman To Reach The NHL
January 14, 2021 | Hockey
The Amherst, Massachusetts native will make his professional debut tonight with the San Jose Sharks.
AMHERST, MASS. - Former Minuteman forward John Leonard will become the 18th University of Massachusetts hockey alum to reach the National Hockey League when he makes his professional debut for the San Jose Sharks in the team's 2020-21 season opener tonight vs. the Arizona Coyotes. The 2020 Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist and 2018 Sharks' sixth round draft pick is the third Minuteman to make the jump from college hockey straight into the NHL over the past two seasons, joining current San Jose teammate Mario Ferraro and 2020 Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar.
Leonard left UMass last spring 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. In 2019-20 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 in 2019-20 at 0.82, tied for first in game-winning goals with six and was one of just three players to record two hat tricks last season. 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.
For continued coverage of UMass Hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
Leonard left UMass last spring 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. In 2019-20 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 in 2019-20 at 0.82, tied for first in game-winning goals with six and was one of just three players to record two hat tricks last season. 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.
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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