HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac senior wing Bryan Leitch (Merritt Centennials BCHL, Coquitlam, B.C.) was named the ECAC Hockey Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week on Oct.14, 2008.
The senior forward totaled three goals and two assists in Quinnipiac’s exhibition win over the University of Prince Edward Island on Oct. 9. Leitch’s hat trick was the first of his collegiate career, topping his previous career-high of two goals on five separate occasions.
Leitch assisted on both goals by Jean-Marc Beaudoin to finish with five points on the night to match his career-high that he set on March 7, 2007 against Brown.
Leitch’s first goal tied the game at 1-1 at 14:48 in the first period. After PEI took a 3-1 lead in the second period, Leitch picked up his first assist on the Bobcats’ power play to cut the Tigers’ lead to 3-2. Quinnipiac would tie the game, 3-3, on another Bobcats’ power play goal by Beaudoin just over two minutes into the third period. Leitch’s second goal, and game-winner, came at the 15:44 mark.
His third goal, to give Quinnipiac a 5-3 lead, came just over a minute later to seal the deal and secure the Bobcat win. Brandon Wong (Victoria, B.C.) had three assists in the game as well.
Quinnipiac opens the 2008-09 season on Friday, Oct. 17 when they travel to the Omaha, Neb. to play in the Mutual of Omaha Stampede tournament hosted by the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The Bobcats play at 4:05 p.m. on Friday against ECAC Hockey foe Union.
The winner of that game will play in the championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the 7:00 p.m. game on Friday between American International College and host Nebraska-Omaha.
