August 2, 2010
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Canadiens Signs Harvard's Leblanc
CHN Staff Report
The Montreal Canadiens have signed Harvard forward Louis Leblanc to a three-year contract. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The signing ends Leblanc’s career at Harvard after one season, and is a big blow to the Crimson's rebuilding efforts.
Leblanc was selected in the first round, 18th overall, by the Canadiens at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
As a freshman at Harvard, the 6-foot-1, 184-pound Leblanc led his team in several offensive categories, including goals (11), assists (12), points (23) and game-winning goals (3), and ranked second for power-play tallies (3) and shots on goal (101).
The youngest player on the Crimson team, Leblanc was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year, was a finalist for ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and was named to the ECAC All-Rookie team. Following the 2009-10 season, the Kirkland, Quebec, native was named to Canada’s National Junior Team Camp in preparation of the World Junior Championship this winter in Buffalo, N.Y.
"While we're disappointed Louis won't be returning to Harvard next year, we are very proud and excited for him as he begins his professional career with his hometown organization," said Harvard coach Ted Donato. "Having talked often with Louis throughout the summer, I know he enjoyed his time at Harvard and this was a very difficult decision for him. We wish him well in the future."
Prior to enrolling at Harvard, Leblanc, made his mark with the Omaha Lancers in the USHL, leading that team with 59 points in 60 games and earning the Rookie of the Year honor in 2008-09. On the international stage, he was a member of Team Quebec at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
