Marlies’ Leipsic named AHL Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Toronto Marlies left wing Brendan Leipsic has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Apr. 12, 2015.

Leipsic scored five goals and added two assists for seven points in three games, all critical victories, as Toronto moved into eighth place in the Western Conference with one week remaining in the regular season.

On Tuesday night, Leipsic recorded the first hat trick of his professional career to pace the Marlies to a 7-4 win over visiting Adirondack. On Friday night, he scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as Toronto picked up a 3-1 win at Rochester. And on Saturday afternoon, Leipsic tallied the game-winner again and registered another assist in the Marlies’ 5-1 victory over the Americans, his fourth consecutive multiple-point game.

A 20-year-old native of Winnipeg, Man., Leipsic has appeared in 70 games this season and has recorded 14 goals and 37 assists for 51 points, good for fourth among all AHL rookies in scoring. Selected by Nashville in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Leipsic began the season with Milwaukee before being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 15, and has totaled 16 points in 23 contests since joining the Marlies. Leipsic, who played in the AHL All-Star Classic earlier this season, spent four junior seasons with Portland (WHL) and won the Canadian Hockey League scoring title in 2012-13.

In recognition of his achievement, Leipsic will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Marlies home game.

Also see: Previous winners, CCM/AHL Player of the Week