MONTREAL, QC — On Tuesday at Newtown restaurant, Louis Leblanc was introduced to the media as the face of the Montreal Juniors. The QMJHL club had other players in attendance including, Francis Meilleur, Charles-Olivier Roussel, Charles Landry and Philippe Lefebvre. But make no mistake, the spotlight of attention was squarely on Leblanc.
‘‘We want to be the best team we can be,’’ said Pascal Vincent, GM and head coach of the Juniors. “Developing the right culture with the right chemistry and vision is what we need to be successful, and I firmly believe in our chances of that this season. We have a solid duo in net combined with one of the best defensive systems of the league, along with several assets up front like the guys you see here today.”
It was the first stop of what would prove to be a busy afternoon for Leblanc. The 19 year-old will have to get used to balancing an increased hockey load, the Montreal media, and his academic career.
Leblanc is expected to make a significant contribution on the ice, but perhaps more importantly, will provide the draw that owner Farrel Miller needs if he wants to move the team to the proposed 7,500 seat arena in Laval. The Juniors currently play at the Verdun Auditorium with a capacity of 4,000. The lease in Verdun runs out at the end of the 2010-11 season which a team option for three more years.
While league rules prevent the Montreal Canadiens from being involved directly with a QMJHL team, there has been speculation that Habs president Pierre Boivin may have an interest in being a managing partner of the Laval sports complex through his concert booking company called evenco.
For Leblanc, he will once again experience the dual life of hockey player and student. Following the Juniors press conference, Leblanc headed to McGill University to speak to academic advisors and register for the Fall session. Leblanc, looking dapper in a suit and tie, stopped to sign autographs for excited office staff.
While at Harvard, Leblanc majored in Economics. To continue towards his academic goals, he will take courses in finance or entrepreneurship this year at McGill.
Leblanc and the Juniors begin their 2010-11 season on September 10th at Verdun Auditorium, when they face the Shawinigan Cataracte.
(photo credit: Photo: Xavier Monferran)