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Typically, in Division I hockey, players experience a transition period from when they first come in after junior hockey to when they are adjusted to collegiate standards. For freshman defenseman Joey LaLeggia, this transition period has been virtually nonexistent, according to head coach George Gwozdecky.
“It’s a huge jump to go from junior hockey to college hockey at the Division I level, and it usually takes a little while longer [to adjust],” said Gwozdecky. “Even with the most talented players, and we’ve had some pretty good ones here that have played that position, Matt Carle and Ryan Caldwell and Matt Donovan, have all had a little bit of a transition period.”
Gwozdecky believes LaLeggia hasn’t been phased by the same transition period NHL players endured at DU.
“Joey, even from day one, provided that punch for us from the blue line, and he’s continued to do so,” said Gwozdecky. “He’s been given a lot of opportunities, and as those opportunities have continued he’s learned on the fly.”
LaLeggia has a long history of hockey, starting at age five, and continuing through today, dabbling in midget hockey in British Columbia and the British Columbia Hockey League in Penticton. He began playing in Markham, Ontario, where his family lived for a year before moving back to his hometown of Vancouver. In Vancouver, LaLeggia played at the Burnaby Winter Club, two minutes from his house.
“[The BCHL] was an awesome experience as well,” said LaLeggia. “Coach Fred Harbinson was great for me in my transition to come here.”
The main change for LaLeggia was the difference in maturity between the level of hockey DU plays and the level of junior hockey in the BCHL.
“Every one’s just bigger, faster, stronger and older [here],” said LaLeggia. “I was a veteran on my team last year and I was 18. Then coming here this year, I’m one of the younger guys at 19, so it was just a maturity thing.”
Since joining the Pioneer ranks, LaLeggia has played in all 34 games this season and recorded 36 points, trailing only junior forward Drew Shore with 45 points and sophomore forward Jason Zucker with 39 points. He is also the top-scoring rookie in Division I hockey.
LaLeggia also won numerous awards in the BCHL prior to coming to Denver. In his 2010-2011 season, he was named to the All-Star Team and was recognized as best defenseman, most valuable player, most assists, most assists by defenseman, most goals by defenseman and most points by a defenseman.
“Prior to coming here, he was a big time, point-producing defenseman, and that was the reason we recruited him, because we needed a guy to play that kind of role on our team,” said Gwozdecky. “The thing that I didn’t expect, I don’t think anybody expected, was that he would be able to make the transition as quickly as he has and to be able to have the kind of offensive success that he’s had so far.”
LaLeggia also was honored with the Hockey Commissioners Association National College Rookie of the Month award for the month of January.
“It was an honor; anytime you get mentioned like that in the NCAA ranks, it’s always good. But we had a really good month as a team in January, so that’s really what I was happy about,” said LaLeggia.
In the transition between junior hockey and collegiate hockey, many changes must be made and much more is expected of the athlete at this level. LaLeggia has had to work on improving his defensive game in addition to all of his offensive success.
“Certainly, his strength is creating offense and being able to make plays with the puck, whether that’s to put it on another teammate’s stick or get the puck through the net for a point, and he’s done a very good job of it so far,” said Gwozdecky.
LaLeggia has been able to learn quickly, according to Gwozdecky, and LaLeggia credits much of this to the big-brother system DU hockey implements between its freshmen and the veterans on the team.
“I play with Drew Shore on the power-plays, and he’s obviously a great leader,” said LaLeggia. “He’s our captain and an unbelievable player as well, so he’s kind of helped me out and helped the transition, as well as my big brother Paul Phillips on the team who has been great with me as well.”
In this weekend’s series against North Dakota, LaLeggia netted a goal on Friday in the final minute of the game and tallied an assist on fellow freshman defenseman Scott Mayfield’s power-play goal on Saturday.
After this weekend’s match up, the Pioneers have two remaining regular season games and continue to hunt for the NCAA tournament and prepare for the WCHA playoffs with LaLeggia as a key player to both the offense and defense for the Pioneers.
