Habs select Kirkland native as top choice

Two years ago the Montreal Canadiens had the opportunity to select local forward Angelo Esposito in the first round, but opted instead for American-born defenseman Ryan McDonough with the 12th overall selection. With Kirkland native Louis Leblanc eligible this year, the results couldn’t have been more different.

Just like in 2007, fans and media alike wondered whether the local boy would be available when the Habs made their way to the podium, this time at No. 18. An impressive season had vaulted Leblanc into the top 10 on some people’s draft boards, but a bit of chance coming as a result of a few ‘surprise’ selections provided the Canadiens the opportunity to match community and prospect. “It’s an unreal feeling, it’s like a dream come true,” Leblanc told The Chronicle Monday. “I want to play in the NHL so I would have been happy to be drafted by any team but it worked out perfectly for me.”

Perhaps the added element of having the draft in Montreal pushed the Habs into selecting the homegrown talent, but whether or not that had any bearing on the decision, fans were obviously delighted, exuberantly chanting his name after he was called to the podium.

For his part, Leblanc remained relatively stoic, flashing a subtle grin as he received celebratory hugs from parents and friends nearby.

A product of the Lac St. Louis midget AAA Lions program, Leblanc spent two years under coach Danny Dupont, who last year hailed him as one of the most talented players he’s ever worked with. “Louis is a special player and has proved that at every level he has played. Great kid, great family, he will be a great player,” Dupont said.

This past winter Leblanc plied his trade in Nebraska, suiting up for the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers alongside fellow Canadiens draft pick Danny Kristo. The pair led the team in points, with Leblanc netting 59 and Kristo narrowly trailing with 58. The chemistry built will be beneficial to them in the future, as each will have to deal with the pressures of playing in front of the notoriously fickle Canadiens’ fans and media, as well as adjusting to living on their own, something that many Habs’ youngsters struggled with last season. Fortunately for Leblanc, he will have his parents nearby to help him along his way.

Leblanc’s background is hardly typical of the average NHL prospect. Both his parents emerged from academic backgrounds and ensured that education played an important part of his life growing up. This likely influenced his decision to spurn the QMJHL’s Val d'Or Foreurs as well as several American universities with more prestigious hockey programs in order to attend Harvard as an economics major.

While Leblanc did don a Canadiens jersey for photographic purposes last Friday night, Habs fans shouldn’t expect to see him in Montreal next fall. He will be beginning university in the fall and said he expects to play a year or two at Harvard before hopefully making the jump to the NHL. “When I am ready to leave (university), I will try to make the Canadiens,” Leblanc said.

All in all, the drafting of this local phenom is a fitting way to commemorate what is widely considered the final event in the celebration of the Habs centennial season.

Joining Leblanc as new Habs prospects are Americans Mac Bennett and Michael Cichy, Russian winger Alexander Avstyn, Finnish players Joonas Nattinen and Petteri Simila, as well as Ontario-born Dustin Walsh and Quebec native Gabriel Dumont. <@Cp>Chronicle, Mike Wyman<@$p> - additional reporting by Albert Kramberger