Boston College men’s hockey forward Ryan Leonard has won the 73rd annual Walter Brown Award. The honor was given to the sophomore by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, who announced it in a press release on Thursday.

Maine, the Hockey East tournament champion, will play in Allentown, Pa. BC will play in Manchester, N.H. on Thursday; and BU will play in Toledo, Ohio.

The hat-trick hero from that BU game, Joey Muldowney, will be one to watch in the NCAA tournament. Muldowney is a San Jose Sharks draft pick, and in his second year with the Huskies, he has exploded offensively, putting up 27 goals and 45 points in 37 games.

For New England college hockey fans, this is a special NCAA Tournament. Of the 16 teams that will begin play this week, eight hail from the six-state region, including four Massachusetts schools.

The Manchester Regional begins on Friday, March 28, and will be held at the SNHU Arena. Joining the Eagles are the Bentley University Falcons, the Providence Friars, and the Denver Pioneers.