NCHC Players of the Month Release (PDF)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time in the brief history of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), one team swept the NCHC’s monthly awards as Denver senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia repeated as NCHC Player of the Month while DU freshman forward Danton Heinen captured NCHC Rookie of the Month for February, the conference announced Tuesday. LaLeggia was Co-NCHC Player of the Month for January.

NCHC PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Joey LaLeggia
Denver
Senior Defenseman
Burnaby, B.C.

LaLeggia continued his stellar senior season by notching 13 points on three goals and 10 assists in just seven games in February, while leading the Pioneers to a 4-2-1 mark during the month. His 13 points tied for fifth nationally in February and ranked second in the NCHC only behind Heinen, while he was tops among all NCAA defensemen in February scoring. His 10 assists in the month tied for the NCHC lead and second in the country among all players, while his 1.43 assists per game was tops among all NCAA players in February and his 1.86 points per game ranked fourth in the country and tops among NCAA blue liners. Two of LaLeggia’s three goals in February came on the power play while he finished with a plus-5 rating in the month.

LaLeggia tallied at least one point in all seven games in February for a seven-game point streak, while he had two points in six of the seven contests, including each of his last four games of the month. The Edmonton Oilers prospect opened February with two assists, including one on the game-winner, while helping DU shut out rival Colorado College Feb. 6. The following weekend, Feb. 13-14, he compiled three points at then No. 2 North Dakota, scoring a power play goal and adding an assist in the series opener. LaLeggia garnered NCHC Defenseman of the Week in each of the first three weekends in February, including both the game against CC and the series at UND.

A weekend later, LaLeggia continued his success against the rival Tigers with another NCHC Defenseman of the Week honor, compiling four points in a sweep of CC Feb. 20-21. He dished out two assists in Friday’s win and added a power play goal and another helper the next night when he was named third star of the game. LaLeggia then capped his February with another four-point weekend in a split with No. 5 Miami Feb. 27-28. In Friday’s loss, he handed out two assists, his third multi-assist game of the month, while in the series finale he had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 victory, which again earned him third star of the game.

LaLeggia blocked eight shots in February while putting 26 shots on goal during the month.  On the season, he has 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points with his 12 goals leading all NCAA defensemen and his 35 points second nationally among blue liners. He also has a plus-12 rating on the season.  For his career, LaLeggia has 127 points, which ranks third all-time among DU defensemen.

LaLeggia is now a candidate for Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Player of the Month for February, which will be announced Wednesday. The only other nominee for February NCHC Player of the Month was North Dakota junior goalie Zane McIntyre.

NCHC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Danton Heinen
Denver
Freshman Forward
Langley, B.C.

Heinen continued his impressive rookie campaign with a fantastic February, racking up five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in just seven games while helping the Pioneers to a 4-2-1 record. His 15 points led all NCHC players and tied for the national rookie lead in scoring during the month, while his 2.14 points per game in February ranked second among all NCAA players behind only his teammate, Trevor Moore. Heinen’s 15 points also tied for second nationally among all players during the month, as did his 10 assists, while he tied LaLeggia for the NCAA lead with 1.43 helpers per game. His plus-12 rating during the month was two better than any other NCAA player in February.

Heinen recorded points in all seven games in February for a seven-game point streak, while he notched four multi-point games and two multi-goal games. The Boston Bruins draft pick opened the month with a three-point outing in a 3-0 shutout of rival Colorado College Feb. 6 as he had a hand in all three goals, scoring the game-winning goal while adding assists on the final two goals to earn third star of the game. The next weekend, Feb. 13-14, Heinen dished out an assist in each game at then No. 2 North Dakota. A weekend later again against rival CC, Heinen compiled a four-point weekend with two goals and an assist in a 6-4 win Feb. 20 to earn first star of the game. He chipped in an assist the following night in a win as he garnered NCHC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

Heinen saved his best for last, racking up six points in a spilt with No. 5 Miami last weekend to earn NCHC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season. In a loss last Friday, Feb. 27, Heinen doled out two assists, while he tied a career high with four points the following night in a 6-2 victory. In that game on Feb. 28, he scored two power play goals and handed out two assists, including one on the game-winning tally, as he was named the game’s second star of the night. Heinen put 19 shots on goal during the month of February.

On the season, Heinen has 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points, which leads all NCHC players and ranks second nationally among rookies. Heinen is now a candidate for Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Month for February, which will be announced Wednesday. Other nominees for NCHC Rookie of the Month in February were Minnesota Duluth freshman goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo and UND freshman forward Nick Schmaltz.

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