'Hockey Club Lugano announces the signing of Canadian defender Joey LaLeggia, born in Burnaby (British Columbia) on 24.06.1992, with a contract valid for two seasons.
Defender "left" (178 cm. x 84 kg.), the nearly 31-year-old came to prominence at a young age in thethe BCHL where, in the jersey of the Penticton Vees, he was twice the defenseman che collected the most points in the league (65, 82 points).
Between 2011 and 2015 TheLeggia has subsequently played in the university championshipU.S. (156 games, 131 points), wearing the colors of Denver University with which inthe 2013/14 season he captured the title and was honored simultaneously of the award for best defensive defensive and best offensive defender of the NCAA. In the following season (2014/15) he reconfirmed his personal awards to which was added that of Player of the Year.
After signing his first professional contract with the Edmonton Oilers who had drafted him nel 2012, LaLeggia trod the boards of the AHL for five years., where his talents offensive have emerged progressively with aa statistical overall of 0.55 points per game (67 goals, 111 assists) in the 326 contests played with the Oklahoma City Barons, the Bakersfield Condors and the San Antonio Rampage. For some periods Joey was also deployed as a left wing.
Landed in Europe, played between 2020 and 2023 in Sweden's top league (131 games, 31 goals, 57 assists, 88 points), first with the Rögle BK (playoff finalist), then with the Timra IK and HV 71. In the last championship LaLeggia was the defender to have collected the most goals (18) of Sweden Field hockey League.
These are the words of HCL General Manager Hnat Domenichelli:
"Joey is a defender two-ways with excellent skating. He has buone vision and plays with energy. He has enforced an exit clause in his contract with the Swedish club where he played last season, and this made the deal possible without any financial compensation from Lugano. We look forward to welcoming him and his family."