Jack Leetch

Jack Leetch
Born Braintree, Massachusetts, USA
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defenseman/Winger
Played for Boston College
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1960–1963

Jack Leetch is an American former ice hockey Defenseman and Winger who was an All-American for Boston College.[1]

Career

Jack Leetch was a three-year varsity player for Boston College under John Kelley. He led the team in goals as a senior, scoring 27 and was named an All-American after having switched from Defense to Wing. Leetch helped the Eagles reach the ECAC Championship, garnering not only a spot on the All-Tournament First Team[2] but an appearance for BC in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles lost both of their tournament games to finish fourth but Leetch was recognized as one of their best played with another appearance on an All-Tournament Team.[3]

After graduating, Leetch tried to make the US Olympic team but was one of the final roster cuts.[4] He retired as a player afterwards moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where his son Brian was born. Eventually the family settled in Cheshire, Connecticut where Jack became the manager of the town's ice rink. He was able to use his position to give his children as much ice time as possible, with his son Brian showing particular promise. Brian became a star on his high school team, and the elder Leetch was able to see his son follow in his footsteps by attending Boston College; Brian would ultimately reach the NHL with the New York Rangers and join the Hockey Hall of Fame.[5]

Jack Leetch was inducted into the Boston College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.[6] Another son, Eric, played college hockey at Army and went on to become an army chaplain.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1960–61 Boston College NCAA — — — — — — — — — —
1961–62 Boston College ECAC Hockey — — 26 — — — — — — —
1962–63 Boston College ECAC Hockey — 27 — — — — — — — —
NCAA Totals 84 62 72 134 — — — — — —

Awards and honors

Award Year
All-ECAC Hockey First Team 1961–62
1962–63 		[7]
AHCA East All-American 1962–63 [1]
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament First Team 1963 [8]
NCAA All-Tournament Second Team 1963 [9]

References

  1. ^ a b "1962-1963 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  2. ^ "Men's All-Tournament Teams" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  3. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  4. ^ "Leetch's road to NHL far from storybook". Sports Illustrated. January 25, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Leetch, Brian". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jack Leetch". Boston College Eagles. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "ECAC All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. ^ "All-Tournament Honors" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  9. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.