I can’t see too well…is that the Bleu,Blanc et Rouge undergarments of the Habs’ mascot showing as he does cartwheels on Ste.Catherine street in downtown Montreal ? Has it been that long since he danced on top of the dugout of Montreal’s professional baseball team ? That’s Expos… Mr. Youppi…, not expose!
The reason for his exuberant behavior is the signing of Louis Leblanc to a three year contract. The Habs’ first round pick in the 2009 draft is the heir apparent to Guy Lafleur, in the eyes of the majority of Francophones in the hockey mad Province of Quebec anyways. The reason ? The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Leblanc was selected eighteenth overall and is the first Quebec – born player selected by The Habs in the first round since Eric Chouinard in 1998. Chouinard played fifty – eight games in the NHL with Montreal and Philadelphia notching fifteen points. Don’t hold your breath…Habs fans.
Born in Pte. Claire, Que. LeBlanc recently ended a stint at Harvard University where he led The Crimson in goals (11), assists (12), and points (23) as a freshman in 2009-10 . He appeared in thirty – one games and was named The Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Louis is scheduled to display his skills with The Montreal Junior this coming season in The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and is part of the group of players invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp. Junior Team President Martin Routhier is well aware of LeBlanc’s on – ice as well as his off-ice aspirations.”The QMJHL, in particular the Montreal Juniors, have demonstrated the growth opportunities available to Leblanc, where he can pursue his hockey development in order to achieve great honour and join the ranks of the National Hockey League as soon as possible. Moreover, we understand that the balance of sports and education is an important one for Louis, and our organization wishes to support his academic ambitions, within a flexible environment that will offer him all the tools necessary for him to succeed”
Head coach and team General Manager Pascal Vincent believes that the edition of LeBlanc enables his roster a chance of competing for The Memorial Cup.”We have six NHL affiliated players in our ranks, including Leblanc, who belong to a National Hockey League team and who bring depth on many levels”
Playing in Montreal should give LeBlanc an ‘edge’ that many players, especially those with such high expectations don’t necessarily have before they arrive to play with The Montreal Canadiens.He will endure many valuable lessons as to what it is like to endure a hockey life like a bug in a PetriDish. It should give him an education of dealing with the blood – thirsty Francophone media and if he is as wise as advertised – this learning curve should center the teenager’s ability to cope when he endures the growing pains so often associated with the life of an NHL rookie.
Please, nobody inform LeBlanc who Doug Wickenheiser was and The Habs will be fine.