The Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) announced Friday that University of Denver defenseman Joey LaLeggia has captured the sixth annual HCA National Division I Rookie of the Year award.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound defenceman skated in 42 of 43 games for the Pioneers this season and led NCAA rookie defensemen with 38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists.

LaLeggia, who garnered 27 first-place votes for National Rookie of the Year, was an All-WCHA Rookie Team selection, an All-WCHA First Team honoree and the 2011-12 WCHA Rookie of the Year. He finished the season with a +13 plus/minus rating, to go along with three power-play goals, a shorthanded goal and one game-winning tally on Dec. 31 vs. Air Force, a 7-1 DU victory.

The native of Burnaby also recorded 15 points (4g, 11a) during a season-high eight-game point streak from Dec. 30 to Jan. 28. His overall point total ranked tied for fourth among all NCAA Division I rookies and was third among WCHA blueliners. LaLeggia notched at least one point in 23 games this season and tied for a team-best 13 multi-point efforts for Denver in his rookie campaign.

LaLeggia, who was a member of Denver’s 10-player freshman class this season, finished first in WCHA rookie scoring and tied for first in WCHA defenceman scoring with 28 points on eight goals and 20 assists in 28 league games.

He was named was named HCA National Rookie of the Month for January while helping Denver to a 5-1-0 record in the month with 12 points (2g, 10a) in six games and was named WCHA Defensive Player of the week on Jan. 17th.