Ryan Leonard scored twice for the number-one ranked Boston College Eagles on Friday night in a game that held a little more personal significance than others for the 19-year-old winger. Leonard scored both goals in front of family and friends as Boston College traveled to Amherst, Massachusetts, Leonard’s hometown, to take on UMass.
Not all of the fans in attendance at Mullins Center were on Leonard’s side though as the Capitals’ top prospect was reportedly booed by UMass’ student section throughout the game. Leonard spurned his hometown school, where his brother John played, in favor of committing to Boston College.
“My brother’s dream was to play in front of his hometown,” Leonard told the Daily Hampshire Gazette in 2021. “I wanted to play in the Beanpot.”
The decision to go two hours east to Boston has earned him a fair share of haters in Amherst. Some of that hostility was on display after Leonard scored his first goal of the game.
Leonard’s first strike came on the power play with 2:39 remaining in the second period. Defenseman Eamon Powell left a slingshot pass to Leonard who raced into the UMass zone with speed. Instead of looking to pass, Leonard got to the top of the right circle and sent a wrist shot by UMass goaltender Michael Hrabal to extend BC’s lead to 3-1. The tally, his 17th of the season, extended his season-best point streak to 12 games and gave him goals in three straight contests.
Leonard’s second goal of the game sealed things for the Eagles.
With just 3:26 remaining in regulation and UMass preparing to pull their goaltender for an extra attacker, Leonard’s linemate Gabe Perreault forced a turnover at the UMass blueline. Perreault then fed center Will Smith who came in alone on Hrabal with Leonard to his right. The eighth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft made no mistake on the 2-on-0 break and scored his second of the night.
The two-goal game is Leonard’s third multi-goal effort in his freshman season. BC’s all-freshman line made up of Leonard, Perreault, and Smith has now combined for 126 points (47g, 79a) in 28 games together.
The Eagles improved to 22-5-1 on the season with the win. They’ll be back on home ice Sunday afternoon for a rematch against UMass.
