Senior center Brady Leonard of Peabody, a team captain and four-year starter for the Essex Tech hockey team, has been selected as the Cape Ann League’s Most Valuable Player.
Leonard led the North Shore in both goals (31) and total points (53) this winter for the league champion Hawks and added two goals and two assists in four playoff games. He will graduate as his school’s all-time leading scorer with 151 points (82 goals, 69 assists), which ties for the 20th all-time spot in local boys hockey scoring history.
Joining Leonard as First Team CAL all-stars were three teammates from Essex Tech: linemates Jaydan Vargas and Anthony Bisenti, along with defenseman Cam Casey.
Vargas, a senior right wing and team captain who also hails from Peabody, finished second on the Hawks in both goals (12) and total points (32). He wound up his varsit career with 98 points, having scored 32 goals and adding 66 assists.
Bisenti, yet another senior from Peabody who plays left wing, scored eight goals and dished out a team-leading 23 assists for 31 points. He had a goal and two helpers in the postseason and finished his career as a Hawk with 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists).
Casey, a junior defenseman, was not only a fine defender but also one who could jump up into the play and contribute. His five goals, 21 assists and 26 total points led all Essex Tech blueliners, and he’ll take 7-31-38 career totals into his senior season.
In addition, for piloting his team to the Cape Ann League title in just its second season as a league member, Essex Tech’s Mark Leonard was chosen as CAL Coach of the Year. His teams have gone 84-27-13 (.730 winning percentage) during his seven seasons with the Hawks, and he won his 300th career game this winter with a 3-1 home victory over Pentucket in early January.
A Massachusetts High School Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Famer, Leonard’s all-time coaching record, including 26 seasons at Peabody High, sits at 312-260-53 (a .542 win pct.).