out of Manhattan College in the 10th round of the 1982 NBA Draft. Their paths began in the same Amherst basketball family. I try to give him advice whenever I can or whenever he asks for it.” The journey begins “Obviously I didn’t go through the exact same thing he did, and I wasn’t a high pick like he’s going to be, but he’s taking a different path than I am, and a little bit better of one. “Obviously I’m his big brother so I take a lot of responsibility in that and try to be a brother he can lean on, whether it’s hockey or just life in general,” John said. He’s dressed for 64 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators. Ryan’s older brother John Leonard, who played three years at UMass, was selected with the 182nd overall pick in the 2018 draft. No one from this part of the state has been selected that high since future Stanley Cup winner Bill Guerin of Wilbraham went No. He’s in uncharted territory, not just for the family but for western Massachusetts prospects in general. It might feel real on draft day,” Ryan said. “I don’t know if it really feels real yet. Most project him as a Philadelphia Flyer at No. Ryan Leonard will likely be among the first 10 picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft on Wednesday in Nashville (7 p.m., ESPN). Represent the United States and join a team with the other best players in your age group? Check.

Play varsity hockey at the highest level in Massachusetts as a freshman? Check.

“Then he checks them off and moves on to the next one.” “He keeps a lot of the goals to himself, kind of quiet,” John Leonard said. AMHERST - John Leonard calls his youngest son Ryan “goal-oriented.”Īs much as Amherst’s Ryan Leonard excels at putting the hockey puck in the net, his father is referring to aspirations and desired achievements.

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