Leblanc to Represent Canada
TORONTO -- Former Harvard standout Louis Leblanc is among a group of 22 players who comprise the roster for Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, NY (USA) from December 26, 2010 through January 5, 2011, Hockey Canada announced Wednesday.
The coaching staff for Team Canada named the final roster at the conclusion of a four-day selection camp, which included two Red-White intrasquad games and a 6-2 win over a CIS All-Star team Tuesday in Toronto.
A Pointe-Claire, Quebec native, Leblanc led Harvard with 11 goals and 23 points in 2009-10. He was a finalist for ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year, and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie team. Leblanc signed a contract with the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens in July 2010.
Canada’s National Junior Team will remain in Toronto until Friday, when it will move its home base to Niagara Falls, Ont.
Canada’s National Junior Team will play in three pre-competition games in southern Ontario prior to the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship, December 26 to January 5 in Buffalo, N.Y., including games against Switzerland (December 20 in Oshawa), against Sweden (December 21 in Toronto) and against Finland (December 23 in Kitchener).
Canada will play its first game of the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship December 26 in Buffalo versus Russia.
Canada has medaled at 12 consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2010; and bronze medals in 2000 and 2001.
