CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Patrick LeBlanc was on the bubble of making the Charlottetown Islanders at training camp.
The team decided it was best to send him back to his major midget team in Moncton to keep developing. They have been pleased with the progression.
He leads the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League in assists (24) and points (38) while being second to his Flyers teammate Alexis Dube in goals.
“It’s going great. Charlottetown wanted me to play a big role on this team, and I think I am doing pretty good,” he said Tuesday night.
The Islanders drafted the LeBlanc in the third round (41st overall) of the 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft after he recorded 29 points in 35 games.
“I am stronger, and I am more confident playing in this league” this year, LeBlanc said.
Islanders head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said LeBlanc is off to a great start.
“The whole plan there was to send him back to hopefully increase his offensive confidence, and fortunately that’s worked out,” he said. “He’s really assertive with the puck.”
He has seen him play a handful of times already this season. He sees a more driven player than last year and says that comes with confidence for young players. LeBlanc is attacking with speed and taking on a larger role with the Flyers.
“I think going back to midget really helped him. He knows he can be a difference maker,” Hulton said. “The thing I’ve liked is, every game I’ve watched him, he wants the puck in key moments and he wants to be a true difference maker in a positive light.”
LeBlanc practised with the Islanders in November for a couple of days. It is something the team has done with its Maritime prospects when they are available.
The practices and training camp have given LeBlanc a sense of what major junior would be like. The five-foot-11, 155-pound left-winger is working on nutrition and in the gym to get bigger and stronger.
“The next level is a lot faster and guys are bigger. I have to work on my strength and my speed,” the youngster said.
LeBlanc is one of the keys to the Islanders future as it loses valuable veterans during the next couple of seasons. LeBlanc’s speed and ability to think the game well give him the ability to make the jump.
The Flyers won the league and Atlantics last year and played at the Telus Cup, going 1-4 in Sudbury, Ont. LeBlanc had two goals and two assists in five games at the nationals.
The squad lost a number of players from last year, including Islanders rookie defenceman Lukas Cormier.
LeBlanc and Cormier grew up together in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B., about 40 minutes north of Moncton. They went to school together and played hockey on the same team each season since they started in initiation.
“It’s a big difference,” LeBlanc said of playing without Cormier for the first time. “He was always a hard worker and a good player to play with.”
LeBlanc said they have a good mix of returnees and rookies. He and the other veterans are trying to help the youngster adjust to major midget with an eye on getting back to the nationals.
Island fans will have a chance to see LeBlanc in person tonight when he and his team visit Kensington for a 7:30 p.m. game with the Monaghan Farms Wild at Credit Union Centre. The squads appear to be the class of the league this season and a rivalry has been formed.
RELATED: Click here for a story on Wild.
Moncton (15-1-1-0) was two points up on Kensington (14-2-1-0) entering weekend play. The teams have split four regular season games with each squad winning an overtime contest. Moncton won the first two games with Kensington taking the last two, plus an overtime win in the quarter-final of the Monctonian.
“Hopefully we can rebound this weekend and get on the winning track again,” LeBlanc said. “I think we’re pretty equal teams. I think we can be better than them, but we have to work hard and play as a team.”
Need to know
A look at Charlottetown Islanders prospect Patrick LeBlanc.
Hometown – Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B.
Age – 16.
Height, weight, position – Five-foot-11, 155-pound left-winger.
Acquired – Third round, 41st overall, in the 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
Major Midget Statistics
Season GP G A Pts.
2017-18 35 9 20 29
2018-19 17 14 24 38
Did you know? Leblanc has at least a point in each of the Flyers games this season and has scored in five straight games.
LeBlanc said: “I think I am more of an offensive player, but I think I am pretty good defensively too. I can see the ice well and also score.”
Islanders head coach Jim Hulton said: “He can make his offensive moves at full speed.”
Head-to-head
A look at the season series between the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild and the Moncton Flyers.
Sept. 29
Moncton 5 at Kensington 4 OT
Oct. 14
Kensington 1 at Moncton 4
Nov. 3
Kensington 7 at Moncton 2
Nov. 17
Kensington 4 vs. Moncton 3 OT (at Monctonian)
Nov. 24
Moncton 3 at Kensington 4 OT
Tonight
7:30 p.m. – Moncton at Kensington.
Saturday, Dec. 29
7:30 p.m. – Kensington at Moncton.
Friday, Jan. 25
7:30 p.m. – Kensington at Moncton.
