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Peter LeBlanc
After being drafted by Chicago, Hamilton-born LeBlanc makes his mark in NCAA hockey at New Hampshire The dream came true for Hamilton’s Peter LeBlanc halfway through 2006. The Hamilton Red Wings center had been drafted into the NHL. Born in February of 1988, LeBlanc was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks as a seventh-round selection, 186th overall. He said he stayed up watching the televised draft, but when the show went off the air, and after watching the proceedings via internet at a friend’s place, he decided to go home. By the time he got there, his mother was at the door to tell him the good news. The son of former World Hockey Association referee Jim LeBlanc was living his dream, but young Peter had to continue his secondary schooling.
While playing with the Red Wings, he scored 14 goals and had 36 points in his 49-game 2004-05 season, and for 2005-06, had 10 goals in 22 games. He was chosen as the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2005. His season was shortened in his last year with Hamilton as he contracted mononucleosis and was off the skates for nearly four months. But even though his ice time was shortened that season, he got the chance to go to a pre-draft showcase in Boston as one of the top players in the 48 teams that entered the event. He was back in top form, and was selected as one of the three best forwards during the contest. After playing with the Red Wings, the left-shooting center would continue his schooling, at the University of New Hampshire. Playing in the Hockey East conference of the NCAA while studying in New Hampshire, LeBlanc started slowly with only five points in 39 games in the 2006-07 season, but the next season scored five goals and picked up 15 points. He started showing his true talent for the 2008-09 year, scoring 14 goals. His 30-point season tied him for third on the Wildcats’ roster, and he helped the squad reach the NCAA Northeast Regional Final, taking two goals, including the overtime winner in the UNH’s 6-5 win over North Dakota in March of 2009.
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