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Ryan Leonard (ice hockey)

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Ryan Leonard
Leonard playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2023
Born (2005-01-21) January 21, 2005 (age 20)
Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team Washington Capitals
National team  United States
NHL draft 8th overall, 2023
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2025–present

Ryan Leonard (born January 21, 2005) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Capitals in the 2023 NHL entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Boston College.[1]

Playing career

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College

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Leonard began his college ice hockey at Boston College during the 2023–24 season.[2][3] During his freshman year he recorded 31 goals and 29 assists in 41 games. Following the season he was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and an AHCA East Second Team All-American. During the 2024–25 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded 30 goals and 19 assists in 37 games. He led the NCAA in goals, and became the first player with consecutive 30-goal seasons since Cam Atkinson in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons.[4] During conference play he led Hockey East in goals (25), points (37), points per game (1.54), shots (116), game-winning goals (8), and plus-minus (+25). Following the season he was named to the All-Hockey East First Team, the Hockey East Scoring Champion, Hockey East Player of the Year, and won the Hockey East Three-Stars Award.[5]

Professional

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On March 31, 2025, Leonard signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals.[6] He made his NHL debut the next day in a game against the Boston Bruins with many of his former Boston College teammates in attendance.[7] Leonard scored his first career goal, an empty netter, on April 4, 2025, the same day Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s record 894th career goal.

International play

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Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Sweden
Gold medal – first place 2025 Canada
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Switzerland
Silver medal – second place 2022 Germany

Leonard represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded five goals and one assist in six games and won a silver medal.[8] He again represented the United States at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded eight goals and nine assists in seven games. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship game against Sweden to help team USA win a gold medal.[9]

On December 16, 2023, Leonard was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded three goals and three assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[10] He again represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he served as team captain and recorded five goals and five assists in seven games and won a gold medal. He was subsequently named the inaugural Murray Costello World Junior Championship MVP award winner.[11] He helped team USA win back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in history.[12]

Personal life

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Leonard was born to parents John and Cindy Leonard. He has three siblings. His brother, John, is a professional ice hockey player. His father, John Sr., was an assistant coach for the UMass Minutemen basketball team between 2001 and 2005.[13]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2021–22 U.S. National Development Team USHL 33 10 5 15 22 — — — — —
2022–23 U.S. National Development Team USHL 17 11 9 20 18 — — — — —
2023–24 Boston College HE 41 31 29 60 38 — — — — —
2024–25 Boston College HE 37 30 19 49 46 — — — — —
NCAA totals 78 61 48 109 84 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 5 1 6 6
2023 United States U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 8 9 17 4
2024 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 3 3 6 4
2024 United States WC 5th 6 0 1 1 2
2025 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 5 5 10 12
Junior totals 27 21 18 39 26
Senior totals 6 0 1 1 2

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-Hockey East Second Team 2024 [14]
Hockey East All-Rookie Team [15]
AHCA East Second Team All-American [16]
All-Hockey East First Team 2025 [17]
Hockey East Three-Stars Award [18]
Hockey East Scoring Champion
Hockey East Player of the Year
International
IIHF World Junior Championship Best Forward 2025 [11]
IIHF World Junior Championship Most Valuable Player 2025
IIHF World Junior Championship Media All-Star team 2025

References

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  1. ^ Wilken, Shawn (June 28, 2023). "Washington Capitals Draft Ryan Leonard 8th Overall". thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Grabowski, Kyle (August 1, 2021). "Amherst native Ryan Leonard commits to Boston College hockey". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Grabowski, Kyle (June 27, 2023). "Western Mass. hasn't seen an NHL Draft prospect like Ryan Leonard since all-star Bill Guerin". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  4. ^ "After 61 goals in two seasons at Boston College, Leonard signs NHL contract with Capitals". USCHO.com. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  5. ^ "Leonard Named Hockey East Player of the Year; Four Eagles Named First Team All-Stars". bceagles.com. March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard". NHL.com. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  7. ^ Kulesa, Anna (April 1, 2025). "Leonard's Boston College teammates cheer forward during NHL debut for Capitals". NHL.com. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  8. ^ Grabowski, Kyle (June 27, 2023). "Call him 'goal-oriented': Amherst hockey prodigy Ryan Leonard likely a top 10 NHL Draft pick". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "Team USA Captures Gold Medal at U18 Men's World Championship". usahockeyntdp.com. May 8, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (December 16, 2023). "Gauthier leads United States 2024 World Junior roster". NHL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Aykroyd, Lucas (January 5, 2025). "Leonard named MVP". IIHF.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Kimelman, Adam (January 6, 2025). "Leonard's leadership paves way for U.S. gold at WJC". NHL.com. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  13. ^ "John Leonard". umassathletics.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "Hockey East Names 2023-24 Men's All-Star Teams". Hockey East. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Hockey East Names 2023-24 Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team". Hockey East. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Top 25 men's college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023-24 season". USCHO.com. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Hockey East Names 2024-25 Men's All-Star Teams". Hockey East. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  18. ^ "Ryan Leonard Named Hockey East Player of the Year". Hockey East. March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Washington Capitals first round draft pick
2023 		Succeeded by
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