Ryan Leonard loves scoring big goals, and the Western Michigan Broncos found out the hard way on Saturday night.
The sophomore forward struck twice, including notching the game-winner in Boston College’s 4-2 win over the Broncos. With just 51 seconds remaining in regulation of a 2-2 game, Leonard, penalty killing for BC, stripped an opponent of the puck at the Western Michigan blueline and then finished off a give-and-go play with Gabe Perreault to seal a late victory.
The goal was the second of Leonard’s season, and he would add the empty netter to his ledger to give him three markers through four games. Leonard has been somewhat snakebitten to start the year, firing 25 shots this season but only scoring three times.
His 25 shots are more than double James Hagens (12), the next ranked player on Boston College. He fired 11 shots against Western Michigan alone.
Leonard has been skating with Oskar Jellvik and Teddy Stiga on BC’s top line after spending the entire year last season playing with longtime linemates Perreault and San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith. James Hagens, the projected number one overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, centers Perreault and Will Vote on the team’s second line.
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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.
The Eagles stumbled out of the gates somewhat this year, dropping their second game of the season to Michigan State, but have rebounded to win two in a row.
Leonard will next play on November 1 against St. Cloud State. The matchup will be Leonard’s first-ever against the Huskies, as BC did not play St. Cloud State last year.
