Former Penticton Vees standout and BCHL MVP Joey LaLeggia, now a freshman defenceman at the University of Denver, has been selected as the Hockey Commissioners Associatioin National Rookie of the Month for January.
A 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Burnaby, LaLeggia led Denver to a 5-1 record in the month of January by contributing 12 points, earning a +4 rating, recording 11 hits and 11blocked shots.
Named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 17, he tallied at least one point in all six games with two goals and 10 assists, had five consecutive multiple-point games from Jan. 7-28, and finished the month as the Pioneers’ top point and assist man.
He had a career-high three assists in a 3-2 league win over Bemidji State on Jan. 14 and is currently in the midst of a career-best eight-game point streak with fourgoals, 11 assists and 15 points.
Playing in all 26 of Denver’s games this season, LaLeggia leads all NCAA Div. 1rookies with 28 points. He leads all NCAA Div. 1 rookie blueliners in points (28), goals (10) and assists (18). He also ranks second among Div. I defencemen with 10 goals and is third in scoring among his Pioneer teammates as a freshman.
Last season in Penticton, Laleggia tallied 20 goals and 62 assists to lead the Vees and finished fifth in the BCHL in scoring.
