Langley, B.C.- Vancouver Giants captain Mazden Leslie has verbally committed to Bowling Green State University for the 2025-26 season.
The 19-year-old defenceman is enjoying a breakout season with 14 goals and 45 assists for 59 points in 49 games.
Leslie is tied with top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Cameron Schmidt (34G-25A) for the Giants’ scoring lead while sitting second among all defencemen in points and assists.
“Thrilled to announce my commitment to play Division I hockey at Bowling Green State University,” Leslie said on social media. “Big thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way.”
Originally selected by the Giants with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Leslie has cemented himself as a franchise great over five years of patrolling the Vancouver blueline.
The Lloydminster, Alta. product has stacked up 50 goals and 127 assists for 177 points in 263 career regular season games, in addition to another seven points (2G-5A) in 16 playoff matches.
With two goals on February 8, 2025, Leslie passed Memorial Cup champion and 2009 WHL Defenceman of the Year Jonathon Blum for most goals by a Vancouver Giants rearguard.
And here is the record-breaker, which capped off a 5-point night! pic.twitter.com/KxF6eJHYQM
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 9, 2025
Leslie was named the 22nd captain in franchise history ahead of the 2024-25 regular season.
“With how well Mazden has played this year, he continues to generate pro interest,” Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta said. “We will continue to support him in achieving his hockey goals and aspirations.”
Leslie, who clocks in at 6-foot, 200 pounds, was recently ranked 196th among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s midterm rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
He’s also previously attended camps with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights.
Vancouver (25-20-6-0) is third in the B.C. Division with 17 games remaining on the regular season slate.
The Giants will kick off an away-and-home set against the Victoria Royals (31-14-3-5) this weekend with a Valentine’s Day tilt on February 14 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
