Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Stat Pack: Milestone Men

A defenseman who could win a conference scoring title, a freshman with 50 points and more milestones in this week’s Stat Pack.

Stat Pack: Milestone Men
Joey LaLeggia holds a two-point lead in the NCHC scoring race with four games remaining.

In our Stat Pack feature, College Hockey Inc. highlights five obscure but telling statistics from the world of college hockey.

1. Only one defenseman in the last 10 years has won a conference scoring title – Torey Krug at Michigan State, who shared the CCHA scoring title with T.J. Tynan in 2011-12. Denver senior Joey LaLeggia (Burnaby, B.C./Penticton-BCHL/EDM) has a chance to join Krug – and only five other defensemen all-time – entering the last four games of the NCHC season.

NCHC Scoring Leaders (Conf. only)
25 points – Joey LaLeggia, Denver (EDM)
23 – Joey Benik, St. Cloud State
22 – Trevor Moore, Denver
21 – Jake Guentzel, Nebraska Omaha (PIT)
21 – Austin Ortego, Nebraska Omaha

Defensemen who Led Conference in Scoring
2011-12 – Torey Krug, Michigan State (CCHA, shared)
2004-05 – Reid Cashman, Quinnipiac (Atlantic Hockey)
1996-97 – Mike Crowley, Minnesota (WCHA, shared)
1986-87 – Wayne Gagne, Western Michigan (CCHA)
*1974-75 – Ron Wilson, Providence (ECAC)
1962-63 – Lou Nanne, Minnesota (WCHA)
* Based on points in all games; conference-only statistics not available

2. Monday night Boston University’s Jack Eichel (N. Chelmsford, Mass./U.S. NTDP) became the 10th freshman since 1999-2000 to reach 50 points.

Most Points, Freshmen, Since 1999-2000 (points per game)
62 – Thomas Vanek, Minnesota, 2002-03 (1.38)
61 – Zach Parise, North Dakota, 2002-03 (1.56)
58 – Peter Sejna, Colorado College, 2000-01 (1.41)
56 – Dany Heatley, Wisconsin, 1999-2000 (1.47)
54 – T.J. Tynan, Notre Dame, 2010-11 (1.23)
54 – Brian Herbert, Quinnipiac, 1999-2000 (1.59)
53 – Jeff Campbell, Western Michigan, 2000-01 (1.43)
51 – Joe Whitney, Boston College, 2007-08 (1.16)
51 – Phil Kessel, Minnesota, 2005-06 (1.31)
50 – Jack Eichel, Boston University, 2014-15 (1.67)

3. Three players are within a point at the top of the active career scoring list:

Most Career Points, Active Players
154 – Austin Czarnik, Miami
154 – Kyle Rau, Minnesota (FLA)
153 – Matt Leitner, Minnesota State
147 – Cody Wydo, Robert Morris
137 – Matthew Peca, Quinnipiac (TB)

4. Six teams have reached the 20-win milestone already this season, led by Michigan Tech (24). Nine teams could join them this weekend, depending upon their results:

Most Wins
24 – Michigan Tech
23 – Minnesota State
22 – North Dakota
21 – Robert Morris
20 – Boston University, Quinnipiac
19 – Boston College, Miami, Minnesota Duluth, Providence
18 – Bowling Green, Colgate, Denver, St. Lawrence, Vermont

5. Last season, seven goaltenders surpassed 1,000 saves for the year. The first to reach that milestone this year could happen this weekend.

Most Saves
954 – Gordon Defiel, Lake Superior State
953 – Rob Nichols, Connecticut
918 – Kyle Hayton, St. Lawrence
822 – Zane McIntyre, North Dakota (BOS)
818 – C.J. Motte, Ferris State
810 – Joel Rumpel, Wisconsin
791 – Thatcher Demko, Boston College (VAN)
781 – Jon Gillies, Providence (CGY)