New England Hockey Journal catches up with San Jose Sharks left wing, John Leonard, out of UMass.
Key facts
Teams: San Jose Sharks; UMass (Amherst) Minutemen
Hometown: Amherst, Mass.
Position: LW
Shoots: Left
Size: 5-11, 183
Age: 23
Notable: Selected 182nd in 2018 NHL draft by Sharks. Made NHL debut, recorded two assists on Jan. 14, 2021, at Arizona. Led Sharks rookies with 13 points (3-10-13) in 44 games in 2020-21. Played three seasons (2017-20) at UMass, totaling 105 points in 106 games. Played 2015-17 with Green Bay (USHL).
Favorites
Food: “A good steak.”
Actor: Chase Stokes
Actress: Madelyn Cline
TV show: “Outer Banks”
Movie: “The Sandlot”
Musician: Drake
Book: “Eleven Seconds” by Travis Roy
Road college rink: Alfond Arena (Maine)
Vacation spot: Long Beach Island, N.J.
Non-hockey athlete: Phil Mickelson
Sport other than hockey: Golf
Equipment
Helmet: CCM
Stick: CCM
Gloves: CCM
Skates: CCM
What are your favorite hockey memories from your youth years? “My favorite hockey memories growing up, and a lot of kids will attest to this, are when we went to tournaments, whether we went to Boston for a weekend or the Cape or traveled all over the country, and played mini sticks in the hallways of the hotels. The parents would all get together and have their fun, and you, all the local kids and your teammates would get together and make a rink in the hallway. Those were always the best times, and you cherish those times. My buddies and I still talk about it all the time.”
Were there any injuries? “Lots of injuries! Hands or sticks to the face. I have a scar on my eye from one of them; I needed stitches. I was playing goalie, and I went to make a save, and got a mini stick to the eye.
Did you make the save? “Oh, yeah! I made the save!”
You played three seasons (2017-20) for your hometown college team, the UMass Minutemen. What are your most memorable college hockey moments? “My three years there were a blast and went by so quickly. When I came in as a freshman, there were, I think, 12 freshmen at the start. It was a fresh start for UMass at the time. We really wanted to help build that program, and fortunately enough we were able to make it to the 2019 NCAA national championship game. Even though we fell a little short there (3-0 loss vs. Minnesota Duluth), that was a top memory for me. Another one was our first playoff game at Mullins Center my freshman year (3-2 OT win vs. Vermont in the Hockey East opening-round series). The atmosphere there is electric. It’s one of the best places to play in college hockey.”
The 2020-21 season was your rookie year in the NHL. What’s your most memorable moment in the NHL so far? “The one that sticks out the most is my first NHL game (Jan. 14, 2021, with the San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes). The first time you walk into the rink for that first game, it’s just crazy to think about. You work your whole life trying to get to that point, and fortunately for me I was able to do it. Even better, we won that game (4-3, in a shootout), so it made it a little bit more memorable.”
What’s the toughest challenge you’ve faced so far in your life or career, and how did you overcome it? “The most challenging portion of my life was my first year (2015-16) with the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League. It was my first time living away from home. I was young, 17 at the time. I didn’t really know what to expect, and the USHL is a big step from high school hockey. It was a tough year for me overall, but it made me tougher in the mental aspect and made me a better hockey player in the long run."
