David Leggio made headlines earlier this season when the Bridgeport Sound Tigers goaltender intentionally knocked his net off when 2 members of the opposing Springfield Falcons came barreling in on a 2-on-none. 

(Watch David Leggio intentionally knock off his net on a 2 on 0)

Following the incident, the American Hockey League (AHL) quickly adopted the “Leggio Rule” which now gives goalies a game misconduct and forces the backup goalie to come in and face a penalty shot if a goaltender intentionally knocks off the net on a breakaway. 

“It was funny to see the notoriety that it got,” said Leggio.  “I had friends in Europe and Spain that said they saw it on TV. It was nice to reconnect with people that I haven’t heard from in a while.”

Most people said positive things to Leggio calling it a smart play, but there were a few naysayers.  “Some saw it as disrespectful to the game, and some even told me to quit hockey,” said Leggio with a laugh.  “It’s really interesting that they changed the rules and I really hope I’m not just known for that in my career.”

Leggio’s career can be seen as an underdog story, starting when he attended Clarkson University as a business major with a concentration in entrepreneurship.  Leggio didn’t receive a scholarship to attend Clarkson and was a walk-on for the hockey team.  “Coaches told me that if I worked hard, I could play at the College level.” 

During his sophomore year, he earned the chance at the starting job and secured it halfway through the season.  His hard work had paid off as he played 4 years at Clarkson and went on to win the ECAC championship in 2007.  “I had a great class and great teammates, some of who went on to sign NHL contracts such as Grant Clitsome, Shawn Weller, and Steve Zalewski.”

Following college, Leggio received a tryout with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL but ended up signing with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.  Leggio noticed the differences between college and pro right away.  “The biggest difference is the amount of games and the travel.  You have to be able to adapt to be successful.” 

In Florida, Leggio formed a dynamic goaltending duo with Anton Khudobin, now of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.  “The biggest challenge was being paired with a goalie like Anton.  The year before he had won the ECHL Goaltender of the Year Award.  Learning to deal with someone else is a challenge.  My whole career I have had very good goalie partners.”

Leggio posted good numbers in his first pro season appearing in 39 games, registering 27 wins, a 2.26 goals against average, and .916 save percentage, but made the decision to move to Finland.  “I just felt it was hard for goalies to come out of college and get an NHL or AHL contract.  I was guaranteed a chance to play in Finland at a higher level for the entire season.” 

He joined TPS in the SM-liiga, the top Finnish league, who were renown for having one of the best goalie coaches in the world in Urpo Ylonen.  Ylonen’s resume speaks for itself, being a retired pro hockey player that played in the SM-liiga, along with being inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, and IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997.

The legendary Ylonen had previously coached and mentored notable goalies Miikka Kiprusoff and Antero Nittymaki.  “I saw it as a good opportunity,” said Leggio looking back at his decision.  “Many experts believe that Ylonen helped create the Finnish goalie boom in pro hockey.”

Leggio and TPS won the league title in 2010, becoming the lowest seeded team to ever win the championship.  “In January, we were in 13^th place out of 14 teams.  We got going at the right time and clinched the playoffs on the last day of the season.”

Other members on that TPS squad included Aki Berg and Joni Ortio.  The league also consisted of former NHLer Sami Kapanen, and current NHLers Mikael Granlund and Jori Lehtera. 

“It was the turning point of my career.  SM-liiga is unbelievable.  They get 12,000 fans per night and when we won, the town partied for almost 4 days.”

After winning the championship, Leggio returned to North America and signed with the Portland Pirates of the AHL.  Now, four years later, Leggio is back with the team after a recent trade from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  “I’m very excited to be back in Portland. It’s a fresh start and it’s nice to go back to somewhere familiar.  My wife and I love the city with all the great places to eat and hang out.” 

The Pirates currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference and are in a race for the playoffs.  “It’s exciting to be a part of a team that has a good chance to make the playoffs and do some damage.  We have a good group of guys and I’m looking forward to making a strong playoff push.  I’ll come in and do everything I can by being a good teammate and doing the little things.”

Leggio has had to relocate a few times throughout his career, having played for 8 different professional teams since graduating College.  As a native of Williamsville, New York, Leggio had the opportunity to play for his hometown organization by being a part of the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.  “It was a very special time in my pro career.  I had success with Rochester and got to play a lot of games.”

Playing close to home has its perks.  “Being able to have so many friends and family at games was nice.  Sometimes I had over 30 people.  It’s special to look up after a game and see the people that you care about.  I didn’t have that opportunity in Florida, Finland, or Portland before.” Leggio played for Rochester for two seasons from 2011-2013 and was named Team MVP by his Amerks teammates two years in a row.

Leggio would then move on to Hershey for the 2013-14 season and then Bridgeport to start the 2014-15 season.  “Moving is the hardest part of the business.  Moving twice a year and finding places to live can be stressful especially with my wife.  It’s hard on the spouses because they have to keep finding new places to work.  We have been lucky and have made the best of it.”

Before gaining publicity for intentionally knocking his own net off, Leggio was already a YouTube sensation.  He was recorded doing an impression of hockey commentator Pierre McGuire which was noticed by the hockey community. 

“Tyson Strachan was doing charity work for his foundation, Strachan Strays, involving stray dogs.  We were doing video promos and then it just kind of happened.  Most of the guys thought it was pretty funny in Hershey. I don’t know if Pierre has seen it or how many guys on Portland have.” Leggio has always been a fan favorite with his sense of humor which is evident in the video.

Watch: David Leggio impersonate Pierre McGuire

Upon learning that Leggio had been traded back to Portland, fellow goaltender Mike McKenna, the Pirates’ PHPA Player Representative and member of the PHPA Executive Committee reached out.  “Mike was helpful with living arrangements and what was covered by the team.  I haven’t been here long but Mike is a true pro and we really get along well.” 

The two have put their college hockey rivalry in the past.  McKenna was a senior at St. Lawrence University when Leggio was a freshman at Clarkson.  St. Lawrence and Clarkson, situated only 10 miles away from each other, have a storied history of being rivals.

Leggio has an appreciation for the PHPA and the importance of having quality Player Representatives.  “It’s great to have team Player Representatives because they can answer just about any question.  Being involved with the PHPA, you get to learn the business side of things and get up to date information.  No one on our team had any idea that AHL teams were potentially relocating to California until we had our PHPA team meeting in the Fall.”

Leggio originally wanted to play forward as a kid but quickly made the transition to goalie.  “I grew up as the young kid in the neighborhood and had cousins that were older who lived down the street.  I played a lot of my sports with them and when we played street hockey, I was the youngest so they would make me play goalie.  I loved scoring goals like former Sabres Alexander Mogilny and Pat Lafontaine but when I went to try out for the travel team they needed a goalie so I volunteered.”  Leggio still enjoys playing out of the net in the summer and stick handling when he has time.  “I think my Dad thought I could be a great forward or defenseman, but it’s worked out.”

It has definitely worked out for Leggio, who once was seen as an underdog, but through hard work, has found success fulfilling his dream of being a professional hockey player.