Louis Leblanc
Encyclopedia
Louis Leblanc is a Canadian professional ice hockey
centre
. He is currently playing with the Montreal Canadiens
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). Leblanc played minor hockey in the Montréal region before he moved to the United States in 2008, where he played one season with the Omaha Lancers
of the United States Hockey League
(USHL) and was named rookie of the year. Eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
, he was selected 18th overall by the Montreal Canadiens
. He then enrolled at Harvard University
and spent one season with the Crimson
, being named Ivy League
rookie of the year, before he signed a contract with the Canadiens in 2010. Leblanc joined the Montreal Juniors later that year, who had earlier acquired his QMJHL playing rights. Midway through his first season in the QMJHL, Leblanc played in the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
; it was the second time he had played in an international tournament, having played at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
, where the team won the gold medal.
in the 2007 QMJHL Draft, but instead went to the Omaha Lancers
of the United States Hockey League
, with the intent of attending university in the United States. He spent the 2008–09 season with Omaha and played in 60 games for the Lancers, finishing with 28 goals and 31 assists for 59 points. His point total led the team in scoring and tied for tenth overall in the USHL; his goal total was tied for eighth overall, and the six game-winning goals Leblanc scored were tied for second overall. In recognition of his season, the USHL named him the league's rookie of the year
.
Leblanc was one of the top-ranked prospects for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
, ranked thirteenth overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting
, and was selected eighteenth overall by the Montreal Canadiens
, who were hosts of the draft. Leblanc was the first francophone
selected in the first round of the Entry Draft by the Canadiens since they picked Eric Chouinard
sixteenth overall in 1998
. He was praised for his speed and determination, in addition to his willingness to go to the corners for the puck, as well as being a natural goal-scorer. Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey
also applauded Leblanc's choice to move to the United States and play in the USHL rather than stay in Quebec with the QMJHL and stated that as it was a more difficult developmental route, it showed he had good character.
He enrolled at Harvard University
in September 2009, and began playing for the university's hockey team, the Crimson
. In his one year at Harvard, Leblanc led the team in goals (11), assists (12) and points (23). He was named the Ivy League
rookie of the year, and was a finalist for the ECAC rookie of the year.
On July 30, 2010, Leblanc signed a 3-year contract with the Canadiens. By agreeing to an NHL contract, he forfeited his NCAA eligibility, being considered a professional. Leblanc subsequently left Harvard and joined the Montreal Junior Hockey Club
of the QMJHL for the 2010–11 season
. His QMJHL rights had previously been owned by three different teams. Originally selected by the Val-d'Or Foreurs
in the 2007 QMJHL Draft, they traded him to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens
on January 8, 2009. His rights were traded again on June 5, 2010 when Chicoutimi sent him to the Juniors. After attending his first training camp with the Canadiens in September 2010, he was sent back to the Juniors, where he made his QMJHL debut on September 10 in Montreal against the Shawinigan Cataractes
; he recorded his first point, an assist, in the game. Two days later, he scored his first goal in the QMJHL, in addition to three assists, against the Gatineau Olympiques
.
The Montreal Juniors relocated in the summer of 2011 and became the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
. On August 22, 2011, the summer trade deadline in the QMJHL, Leblanc was traded by the Armada to the Shawinigan Cataractes
for Cole Hawes. Because Leblanc was now eligible to play in the American Hockey League
due to being 20-years-old, Blainville-Boisbriand will receive two draft choices from Shawinigan, who will host the 2012 Memorial Cup
, should Leblanc play.
of the American Hockey League
, including potting the overtime winner, to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans
.
On November 28, 2011, Montreal recalled Leblanc from their Hamilton AHL affiliate to join the Canadiens; Leblanc had recorded four goals and six assists in fourteen games with the Bulldogs by that point. He made his NHL debut November 30 against the Anaheim Ducks
.
in the Czech Republic
and Slovakia
in August 2008. he led the team with three goals and added two assists for five points as Canada won the gold medal. Leblanc was then invited to try out for the national junior prior to the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
but was one of the last players cut from the team. There was speculation that since he played in the NCAA rather than the Canadian Hockey League
(CHL) it hindered his chances of making the team, as CHL players had played considerably more games than those in the NCAA. Leblanc also had exams scheduled around the time of the camp. He was invited to the summer camp the following year in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
and was one of the better players at the camp. After the pre-tournament camp in December 2010, Leblanc was named to the final roster for the 2011 World Juniors
.
In Canada's first game against Russia
, Leblanc earned his first point, an assist. He scored his first goal, short handed (Canada's first in the tournament), and added an assist in the second game, versus the Czech Republic
. He later notched an assist in the gold medal game, where Canada lost to Russia 5–3. He finished the tournament with three goals and seven points over seven games and ranked fourth in team scoring.
in Québec
on January 26, 1991. Yves works as a chemist for Merck Frosst, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and worked at their research facility in Montréal before it closed in 2009. He then transferred to their facility at Cambridge, Massachusetts
, working four-day weeks and travelling back to Montréal on weekends. Marie works as a piano teacher. His younger brother Jean also plays hockey.
Growing up on the West Island
town of Kirkland, Quebec
, Leblanc first skated when he was three years old and entered organised hockey two years later. He first played in the Lakeshore Minor Hockey Association, then joined the Lac St. Louis Lions, a midget team based in Montréal, at age fifteen when it became apparent that he could pursue the sport at a higher level. Leblanc played two seasons for the Lions and led the triple-A league in scoring both times.
While at Harvard, Leblanc was majoring in economics, and intends to eventually earn his degree. In lieu of this, he took a business class at McGill University
in Montréal when he moved back to the city in 2010.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
. He is currently playing with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). Leblanc played minor hockey in the Montréal region before he moved to the United States in 2008, where he played one season with the Omaha Lancers
Omaha Lancers
The Omaha Lancers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .From 2002-2009, the Lancers' home ice was the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. Until the 2001-2002 season, the Lancers played at...
of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
(USHL) and was named rookie of the year. Eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
, he was selected 18th overall by the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. He then enrolled at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and spent one season with the Crimson
Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey
The Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Harvard University. The Crimson are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, being named Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
rookie of the year, before he signed a contract with the Canadiens in 2010. Leblanc joined the Montreal Juniors later that year, who had earlier acquired his QMJHL playing rights. Midway through his first season in the QMJHL, Leblanc played in the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 2011 edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted by the United States. The games were played in Western New York, at HSBC Arena in Buffalo and Niagara...
; it was the second time he had played in an international tournament, having played at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 12–16, 2008. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Zimný Štadión in Piešťany...
, where the team won the gold medal.
Junior
Leblanc was selected eighteenth overall by the Val-d'Or ForeursVal-d'Or Foreurs
The Val-d'Or Foreurs are a junior ice hockey team based in Val-d'Or, in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. The team was founded for the 1993–94 season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a member of the Canadian Hockey League. Former Quebec Nordiques and Trois-Rivières...
in the 2007 QMJHL Draft, but instead went to the Omaha Lancers
Omaha Lancers
The Omaha Lancers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .From 2002-2009, the Lancers' home ice was the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. Until the 2001-2002 season, the Lancers played at...
of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
, with the intent of attending university in the United States. He spent the 2008–09 season with Omaha and played in 60 games for the Lancers, finishing with 28 goals and 31 assists for 59 points. His point total led the team in scoring and tied for tenth overall in the USHL; his goal total was tied for eighth overall, and the six game-winning goals Leblanc scored were tied for second overall. In recognition of his season, the USHL named him the league's rookie of the year
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
.
Leblanc was one of the top-ranked prospects for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
, ranked thirteenth overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
, and was selected eighteenth overall by the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, who were hosts of the draft. Leblanc was the first francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
selected in the first round of the Entry Draft by the Canadiens since they picked Eric Chouinard
Eric Chouinard
-International:-Personal life:Eric is the son of former Atlanta Flames star Guy Chouinard.-External links:...
sixteenth overall in 1998
1998 NHL Entry Draft
The 1998 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. He was praised for his speed and determination, in addition to his willingness to go to the corners for the puck, as well as being a natural goal-scorer. Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey
Bob Gainey
Robert Michael "Le Capitaine" Gainey is the former executive vice president and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Canadiens from 1973 until 1989...
also applauded Leblanc's choice to move to the United States and play in the USHL rather than stay in Quebec with the QMJHL and stated that as it was a more difficult developmental route, it showed he had good character.
He enrolled at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in September 2009, and began playing for the university's hockey team, the Crimson
Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey
The Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Harvard University. The Crimson are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
. In his one year at Harvard, Leblanc led the team in goals (11), assists (12) and points (23). He was named the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
rookie of the year, and was a finalist for the ECAC rookie of the year.
On July 30, 2010, Leblanc signed a 3-year contract with the Canadiens. By agreeing to an NHL contract, he forfeited his NCAA eligibility, being considered a professional. Leblanc subsequently left Harvard and joined the Montreal Junior Hockey Club
Montreal Junior Hockey Club
The Montreal Junior Hockey Club were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . The team is based out of the Verdun Auditorium, in Verdun, Quebec. The St. John's Fog Devils franchise relocated at the conclusion of the 2007–08 QMJHL season...
of the QMJHL for the 2010–11 season
2010–11 QMJHL season
- Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles: - Montreal Junior Hockey Club vs. Halifax Mooseheads: - Quebec Remparts vs. Val-d'Or Foreurs:- Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Chicoutimi Saguenéens:...
. His QMJHL rights had previously been owned by three different teams. Originally selected by the Val-d'Or Foreurs
Val-d'Or Foreurs
The Val-d'Or Foreurs are a junior ice hockey team based in Val-d'Or, in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. The team was founded for the 1993–94 season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a member of the Canadian Hockey League. Former Quebec Nordiques and Trois-Rivières...
in the 2007 QMJHL Draft, they traded him to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Chicoutimi Saguenéens
The Chicoutimi Saguenéens are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Chicoutimi, Quebec . The team plays its home games at the Centre Georges-Vézina.-History:...
on January 8, 2009. His rights were traded again on June 5, 2010 when Chicoutimi sent him to the Juniors. After attending his first training camp with the Canadiens in September 2010, he was sent back to the Juniors, where he made his QMJHL debut on September 10 in Montreal against the Shawinigan Cataractes
Shawinigan Cataractes
The Shawinigan Cataractes are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Shawinigan, Quebec. The Cataractes have been previously known as the Shawinigan Bruins until 1973, and were called the Shawinigan Dynamos from 1973–78.The Cataractes play their...
; he recorded his first point, an assist, in the game. Two days later, he scored his first goal in the QMJHL, in addition to three assists, against the Gatineau Olympiques
Gatineau Olympiques
The Gatineau Olympiques are a major junior ice hockey team playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League out of Gatineau, Quebec. The Olympiques play out of the Robert Guertin Centre. The club, then known as the Hull Festivals, was granted membership in the QMJHL in 1973. The Olympiques have...
.
The Montreal Juniors relocated in the summer of 2011 and became the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada are a junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Boisbriand, Quebec. The team play its home games at the Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau.-History:...
. On August 22, 2011, the summer trade deadline in the QMJHL, Leblanc was traded by the Armada to the Shawinigan Cataractes
Shawinigan Cataractes
The Shawinigan Cataractes are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Shawinigan, Quebec. The Cataractes have been previously known as the Shawinigan Bruins until 1973, and were called the Shawinigan Dynamos from 1973–78.The Cataractes play their...
for Cole Hawes. Because Leblanc was now eligible to play in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
due to being 20-years-old, Blainville-Boisbriand will receive two draft choices from Shawinigan, who will host the 2012 Memorial Cup
2012 Memorial Cup
The 2012 Memorial Cup will be a four-team, round-robin format tournament played from May 18–27, 2012 in Shawinigan, Quebec. The tournament will feature the league champions of the Ontario, Quebec and Western hockey leagues, and the host Shawinigan Cataractes, who won the right to host the...
, should Leblanc play.
Professional career
Leblanc made his professional debut on October 27, 2011, scoring three points for the Hamilton BulldogsHamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, including potting the overtime winner, to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
.
On November 28, 2011, Montreal recalled Leblanc from their Hamilton AHL affiliate to join the Canadiens; Leblanc had recorded four goals and six assists in fourteen games with the Bulldogs by that point. He made his NHL debut November 30 against the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
International play
Leblanc first participated in an international tournament when he played for the Canadian national junior team at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 12–16, 2008. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Zimný Štadión in Piešťany...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
in August 2008. he led the team with three goals and added two assists for five points as Canada won the gold medal. Leblanc was then invited to try out for the national junior prior to the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2010 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 34th edition of World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. The tournament was hosted in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010...
but was one of the last players cut from the team. There was speculation that since he played in the NCAA rather than the Canadian Hockey League
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
(CHL) it hindered his chances of making the team, as CHL players had played considerably more games than those in the NCAA. Leblanc also had exams scheduled around the time of the camp. He was invited to the summer camp the following year in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
and was one of the better players at the camp. After the pre-tournament camp in December 2010, Leblanc was named to the final roster for the 2011 World Juniors
2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 2011 edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted by the United States. The games were played in Western New York, at HSBC Arena in Buffalo and Niagara...
.
In Canada's first game against Russia
Russia men's national junior ice hockey team
The Russian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Russia. The team represents Russia at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January.-History of Team Russia:Russia competed as a...
, Leblanc earned his first point, an assist. He scored his first goal, short handed (Canada's first in the tournament), and added an assist in the second game, versus the Czech Republic
Czech Republic men's national junior ice hockey team
The Czech men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Czech Republic. The team represents Czech Republic at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World U20 Championship.-2011 WJC roster:...
. He later notched an assist in the gold medal game, where Canada lost to Russia 5–3. He finished the tournament with three goals and seven points over seven games and ranked fourth in team scoring.
Personal life
Leblanc was born to Yves and Marie Leblanc in Pointe-Claire, a municipality on the Island of MontrealIsland of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
in Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
on January 26, 1991. Yves works as a chemist for Merck Frosst, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and worked at their research facility in Montréal before it closed in 2009. He then transferred to their facility at Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, working four-day weeks and travelling back to Montréal on weekends. Marie works as a piano teacher. His younger brother Jean also plays hockey.
Growing up on the West Island
West Island
The West Island is the unofficial name given to the western cities and boroughs of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada...
town of Kirkland, Quebec
Kirkland, Quebec
Kirkland is a town on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. As of 2006, the population was 20,491. It is named after Charles-Aimé Kirkland, a Quebec provincial politician....
, Leblanc first skated when he was three years old and entered organised hockey two years later. He first played in the Lakeshore Minor Hockey Association, then joined the Lac St. Louis Lions, a midget team based in Montréal, at age fifteen when it became apparent that he could pursue the sport at a higher level. Leblanc played two seasons for the Lions and led the triple-A league in scoring both times.
While at Harvard, Leblanc was majoring in economics, and intends to eventually earn his degree. In lieu of this, he took a business class at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montréal when he moved back to the city in 2010.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... | A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... | Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2006–07 | Lac St-Louis Lions | QAAA | 40 | 31 | 18 | 49 | 72 | 22 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 10 | ||
| 2007–08 | Lac St-Louis Lions | QAAA | 43 | 54 | 37 | 91 | 152 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 76 | ||
| 2008–09 | Omaha Lancers Omaha Lancers The Omaha Lancers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .From 2002-2009, the Lancers' home ice was the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. Until the 2001-2002 season, the Lancers played at... |
USHL | 60 | 28 | 31 | 59 | 78 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 8, 2009 and concluded with the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 10, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan... |
Harvard Crimson Harvard Crimson The Harvard Crimson are the athletic teams of Harvard University. The school's teams compete in NCAA Division I. As of 2006, there were 41 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Harvard, more than at any other NCAA Division I college in the country... |
ECAC | 31 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 QMJHL season - Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles: - Montreal Junior Hockey Club vs. Halifax Mooseheads: - Quebec Remparts vs. Val-d'Or Foreurs:- Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Chicoutimi Saguenéens:... |
Montreal Juniors Montreal Junior Hockey Club The Montreal Junior Hockey Club were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . The team is based out of the Verdun Auditorium, in Verdun, Quebec. The St. John's Fog Devils franchise relocated at the conclusion of the 2007–08 QMJHL season... |
QMJHL Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League... |
51 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 100 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 16 | ||
| QMAAAHL totals | 83 | 85 | 55 | 140 | 224 | 36 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 86 | ||||
| USHL totals | 60 | 28 | 31 | 59 | 78 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||||
| ECAC totals | 31 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| QMJHL totals | 51 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 100 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 16 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament The 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 12–16, 2008. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Zimný Štadión in Piešťany... |
Canada Hockey Canada Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions... |
IH18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament is an annual event held each August for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. Unsanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation , the tournament is not granted official status by the sport's governing body... |
4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 2011 edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted by the United States. The games were played in Western New York, at HSBC Arena in Buffalo and Niagara... |
Canada Canada national junior hockey team The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January... |
WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 11 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | |||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| USHL Rookie of the Year | 2009 |
| Ivy League Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... Rookie of the Year |
2010 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 8, 2009 and concluded with the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 10, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan... |
| ECAC All-Rookie Team | 2010 |