Ryan Leonard will play in the NCAA National Championship game after his Boston College Eagles defeated the Michigan Wolverines 4-0 in the Frozen Four on Thursday night.
The Washington Capitals top prospect tallied an assist on the game’s opening goal by Will Smith in the first period.
Leonard’s apple marked his 60th point (31g, 29a) in his 40th game this year. Only Smith (71) and Cutter Gauthier (65) have recorded more points for the Eagles.
The Capitals’ 2023 first-round draft pick nearly scored a goal of his own early in the second period but was stymied by Wolverines netminder Jake Barczewski.
Smith’s tally turned out to be enough for BC as they would pot three more unanswered goals and coast to the shutout victory. Freshman goaltender Jacob Fowler made 32 saves, earning his third shutout of the year.
BC will now match up with the Denver Pioneers in the championship game on Saturday night after the Pioneers eked out a 2-1 overtime win over Boston University earlier on Thursday. Denver already holds a victory over the Eagles this season, a 4-3 decision on October 21.
Leonard will go into that game looking to take home the championship and extend the BC freshman goal-scoring record that he took from Brian Gionta in the final game of the Providence Regional. Leonard’s 31 goals in his rookie season broke a record Gionta (30) had held since 1998.
After the postseason is over, Leonard will have a big decision to make. He could sign an entry-level contract with the Capitals that would forego the rest of his college career. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan recently said that the decision is up to Leonard, and he’s long been ready to make the leap to the pros.
The Capitals will only have two games remaining on their schedule at the conclusion of the national title game and they come in quick succession on April 15 and 16. While Leonard may not get to jump to the NHL this season due to the Capitals falling out of a playoff spot down the stretch, he could still play a big part in the Hershey Bears’ attempt to repeat as Calder Cup champions.
🦅🤝🦅#ALLCAPS x #MFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/hQpANcx0Vr
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 11, 2024
