Ryan Leonard returned to the goal column with Boston College for the first time this season. The sophomore forward found the back of the net for the second-ranked Eagles in their 4-3 loss to fourth-ranked Michigan State.
Leonard’s goal was BC’s second of the game, giving them a 2-1 lead with 1:50 left in the first period. After a Spartans defender broke his stick at the blue line, Oskar Jellvik collected the loose puck and sprung Leonard on a breakaway from the neutral zone.
The 19-year-old winger made no mistake with the opportunity, finishing high over the shoulder of goaltender Trey Augustine. Leonard’s goal was his second point of the season after he tallied an assist in BC’s 3-0 win against Michigan State on Friday night.
David Gucciardi, a fellow Washington Capitals prospect, recorded an assist for the Spartans in their win. Gucciardi is a senior who Washington selected with a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Leonard skated with Jellvik and longtime linemate Gabe Perreault on BC’s top line. James Hagens, the projected number one overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, centered Teddy Stiga and Andre Gasseau on the team’s second line.
Game 2 | Links & Lines
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The Washington Capitals’ top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft returned for his sophomore year in college after a record-setting freshman campaign in which he scored the most goals by a freshman (31) in school history. Leonard was named one of BC’s alternate captains at the beginning of October.
Last year with the Eagles, Leonard put up 60 points (31g, 29a) in 40 games and finished as the NCAA’s third-leading goal scorer. BC made it to the national title game, where they fell 2-0 to the Denver Pioneers. After the loss to Denver, Leonard was approached by the Capitals to sign his entry-level deal but decided against foregoing further college eligibility.
Leonard will next play on October 18 against American International College (AIC). The Friday night matchup will be the Eagles’ first this season on home ice at the Conte Forum.
