Brian Leetch Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame
November 12, 2009 | Men's Hockey
Nov. 12, 2009
Former Boston College star defenseman Brian Leetch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, November 9 in Toronto, Ontario.
In addition to Leetch, the 2009 Hockey Hall of Fame Class features former NHL greats Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille and Steve Yzerman, and front-office legend Lou Lamoriello.
Leetch played one memorable season - 1986-87 - at Boston College. The text below highlights Leetch's fantastic hockey career - at Boston College and in the National Hockey League.
Leetch is the second Boston College hockey player to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He joins Joe Mullen, who was inducted on November 13, 2000, in Toronto.
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Brian Leetch '87 (BC: 1986-87; NHL: 1987-2006)
By the time Brian Leetch officially announced his retirement from professional hockey on May 24, 2007, there wasn't a hockey fan on earth who didn't recognize -- and often revere -- the hockey talents of this stellar blueliner.
The next day, the New York Times reported on his announcement "officially ending the 18-year career of arguably the best American-born player in NHL history." That same day, the Boston Globe labeled Leetch "perhaps the most dynamic-skating US-born defenseman in NHL history."
For those who knew Leetch and saw him play as a teenager, the Cheshire, Conn., product's great success didn't come as a complete surprise. He began his high-school career at Cheshire High School, before moving on to finish that part of his education at Avon (Conn.) Old Farms.
Leetch then began his collegiate career at Boston College. BC was attractive to Leetch for many reasons; most notably that his father, Jack, had played three years (1960-63) at the Heights for legendary coach John "Snooks" Kelley. Jack Leetch captured All-America honors in his final season.
Brian made his own name, however -- in just one season. As a freshman, he earned All-America first-team honors and All-New England honors. After tallying 47 points -- nine goals and 38 assists -- in 37 games, Leetch was honored as the 1987 recipient of the Walter Brown Award, which is given annually to the top American-born player in New England. He also gained team MVP honors -- pretty impressive on a roster that included future NHL notables Kevin Stevens, Greg Brown, Ken Hodge, Craig Janney and Tim Sweeney.
Leetch's next stop was with the U.S. Olympic Team. After months of training and exhibitions (including a game against his former BC teammates), he competed with Team USA in the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary. Later in his career, he'd twice more represent his country in the Olympic Games (1998 and 2002).
After playing in the first of his three Olympics, Leetch made his professional debut with the New York Rangers on Feb. 29, 1988, against St. Louis in Madison Square Garden. He played 17 games with the Blueshirts that year, giving fans in the World's Most Famous Arena a taste of what was to come.
He made an enormous impact in his official rookie season -- 1988-89 -- tallying 23 goals and 48 assists in 68 games. At year's end, he was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year.
His career continued to blossom and three years later Leetch captured the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman. He had recorded 102 points -- 22 goals and a team-record 80 assists -- in 80 games in 1991-92. Yet, the Rangers missed the playoffs.
In 1993-94, Leetch took yet another step. He scored a career-best 23 goals that season, and led the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup title since 1940. In the postseason, the Corpus Christi, Texas, native tallied 34 points -- 11 goals and 23 assists -- in 23 games. He gained the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.
An 11-time All-Star (he missed two because of injury), Leetch enjoyed many more NHL highlights, including serving three years as the Rangers team captain and gaining a second Norris Trophy for his play during the 1996-97 season.
Leetch was traded to Toronto on March 3, 2004. He played 15 games with the Maple Leafs, and then finished his career by playing 61 games with the Boston Bruins in 2005-06. During his last trip to Madison Square Garden -- as a member of the Bruins -- Leetch was greeted with a standing ovation as he stood on the blueline prior to the game.
Photos courtesy of Hockey Hall of Fame ... Special thanks to Craig Campbell, Kelly Masse
Leetch's Accomplishments
- Member of New York Rangers' Stanley Cup team in 1994.
- Only American to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP (1994).
- An 11-time All-Star selection; missed two games because of injury.
- Norris Trophy winner (top defenseman) in 1991-92 and 1996-97.
- Calder Trophy winner (rookie of the year) in 1988-89.
- Rangers team captain from Oct. 3, 1997 to July 12, 2000.
- Six-time Rangers team MVP.
- Represented the United States in three Olympic Games (1988, 1998 and 2002).
- Finished his career with 1,028 points in 1205 games.
- Was inducted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame on October 10, 2008.
- Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 9, 2009.
