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Former Vee Laleggia wins rookie of the year

Joey Laleggia has won the Rookie of the Year award to cap strong season with Denver Pioneers

Submitted by BCHL/HCA

Former Penticton Vees defenceman Joey Laleggia has won the Rookie of the Year award.

It was announced Friday that Laleggia, a Burnaby native, won the sixth annual Hockey Commissioner’s Association national division 1 ROY. The five-foot-10, 180-pound blueliner skated in 42 of 43 games for the University of Denver Pioneers and led National Collegiate Athletic Association rookie defensemen with 38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists.

LaLeggia, who garnered 27 first-place votes was an All-WCHA rookie team selection, was an All-WCHA first team honoree and the 2011-12 WCHA Rookie of the Year. He finished the season with a +13 rating, along with three power-play goals, a shorthanded goal and one game-winning tally on Dec. 31 against Air Force in a 7-1 victory.

Laleggia also recorded 15 points, including four goals, during a season-high eight-game point streak from Dec. 30 to Jan. 28. Overall he tied for fourth among all NCAA Division I rookies and was third among WCHA blueliners.