Chris Leahy was a dominant defenseman feared by opponents in the early 80s– a highly physical, by-gone era of hockey. The Columbia, Maryland, native was a hard hitter and at the same time highly intelligent player and playmaker. While very reliable as a defensive defenseman, Chris in his junior and senior years was nonetheless quarterback of the highly effective power play units of those years.
| Candidate Name: | Chris Leahy |
| Years with UD Hockey program: | (4) 1981-1985 |
| Graduation Year: | 1985 |
| Category (Player/Builder/Both): | Player |
Chris’s outstanding on-ice and locker room leadership propelled the Hens to winning seasons in all four years he played, including a dominant Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey (MACHC) Championship, defeating Villanova University for the title in his sophomore year. During his career, Chris amassed multiple team top defenseman honors as well as being named an MACHC all-star in multiple years. A skilled playmaker, Chris led all Hens defensemen in assists his junior and senior seasons. A high point in his hockey career was being named team Captain in his senior year.
To his teammates he was known as “LeHi”, one of the last of the fearless, down-on-the-knees shot-blocking defensemen. He would think nothing of taking a slapshot to the chest in order to prevent a shot—regardless of the score. So much a dominant player was Chris that he is the namesake of the Leahy Award, given each year to the team’s top defenseman.
Today, Chris has two children and now resides in Santa Clara, California. He is the proud owner of Mission City Creamery, a family-operated gourmet ice cream shop he opened in 2013, where you can find him behind the counter daily.
Season by Season Stats:
* 1982-83 stats missing
** GP stat not taken 81-82, 83-84
