The Hockey Commissioners' Association recently named University of Denver defenceman Joey LaLeggia of Burnaby the sixth annual national Division I rookie of the year.
The 5-10, 180-pound defenceman skated in all but one of the team's 43 games this season, while leading the country's rookie defensemen with 38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists.
LaLeggia was an All-Western Collegiate all-rookie team selection, an All-WCHA first team honoree and the 2011-12 WCHA rookie of the year. He finished the season with a plus-13 plus/minus rating, to go along with three power-play goals, a shorthanded goal and one game-winning tally. LaLeggia also recorded 15 points, including four goals during a season-high eight-game point streak from Dec. 30 to Jan. 28. His overall point total ranked tied for fourth among all NCAA Div. I rookies and was third among WCHA blueliners.
LaLeggia notched at least one point in 23 games this season and tied for a team-best 13 multi-point efforts for Denver in his rookie campaign.
The former Northwest Giants star and Burnaby Winter Club product, who was a member of Denver's 10-player freshman class this season, finished first in WCHA rookie scoring and tied for first in WCHA defenseman scoring with 28 points on eight goals and 20 assists in 28 league games. He was named was named Hockey commissioners national rookie of the month for January while helping Denver to a 5-1-0 record in the month with 12 points (2g, 10a) in six games. He was also named WCHA defensive player of the week on Jan. 17th.
The HCA rookie of the year is selected in a vote by the assistant coaching staffs of all 58 NCAA Div. I hockey teams. Players on the ballot receive five points for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote. Each conference's top rookie serves as their respective league's nominee. Previous winners of the award include: T.J. Tynan, Notre Dame (2011), Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack College (2010), Kieran Millan, Boston University (2009), Richard Bachman, Colorado College (2008) and Andreas Nodl, St. Cloud State (2007). LaLeggia is the third winner to come from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
