Leblanc’s prospects

Kirkland native Louis Leblanc is a prospect for this summer’s NHL entry draft in Montreal. Leblanc, who played for the Lakeshore Hockey Association before spending two years with the midget AAA Lac St. Louis Lions, was a member of Canada's gold medal-winning under-18 squad at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic. Expected to enroll at Harvard University next fall, Leblanc is currently playing for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Junior Hockey League where he is a teammate of Habs prospect Danny Kristo who was a second-round selection by Canadians GM Bob Gainey in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Leblanc has 14 goals and 15 assist in 29 games with Omaha this season. He scored 85 goals in two seasons for the Lions.

Kirkland native Josh Tordjman, who has been playing solid goal of late for the American Hockey League San Antonio Rampage was called up to the NHL Phoenix Coyotes last Wednesday on an emergency basis. However, the visit to the bright lights of the NHL was short for the 23-year-old Tordjman, who spent time with the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League West Island Lions after learning his skills in the Lakeshore Hockey Association. He was returned to the Alamo City 24 hours later.

So far this season, Tordjman has three shutouts, a 2.70 goals-against average and a solid .903 save percentage in 24 games with the Rampage - an admirable feat considering the fact his team has struggled. It currently finds itself in last place in the AHL’s Western Conference’s Western Division. Tordjman was named AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 7 after going 3-0-0 with two shutouts in three starts. In the month of December, Tordjman posted a record of 9-2-0 with a 1.90 goals against average and a .928 save per centage in 11 games. His three shutouts currently ranks third among all AHL goaltenders this season.

The Quebec u-17 squad, whose roster featured several recognizable names, finished fifth at the recently held world under-17 hockey tournament in Port Alberni, B.C., with a 3-2 record The result was two steps higher for Quebec than at last year’s tournament, held in London, Ont. Marc-André Dumont, a former West Island resident who learned his coaching skills with Hockey West Island and now serves as head coach of the midget AAA Châteauguay Patriotes was head coach for Team Quebec, while players on the roster with local connections included Stefan Fournier, a Dorval native currently playing for Acadie Bathurst of the QMJHL, Beaconsfield native Matthew Bissonnette of the QMJHL Moncton Wildcats and Ile Bizard native Michael Chaput of the QMJHL Lewiston Maineiacs. Also on the squad was goaltender Alexandre Boileau-Domingue, a St. Hilaire native who played last season for the midget AAA Lions last year, and forward Yasin Cissé, a Westmount native who was also part of the Lions last season. Quebec defeated Germany 3-1 last Saturday in the fifth-place game. Bissonnette, who learned his skills in the Dollard/Versant Ouest and Lakeshore Hockey Associations before spending a year with the midget espoir Lac St. Louis Tigers, scored two goals for the victors. He was named Player of the Game for Quebec.

Forward Vanessa Davidson of Kirkland and Dorval native Caroline Hill helped the McGill Martlets capture the 41st annual Theresa Humes women’s hockey tournament held at Concordia University’s Ed Meagher arena this past weekend.

No. 1-ranked McGill trounced Toronto 9-0 Sunday to capture the tournament. Davidson tallied twice and added a pair of helpers. She finished the three-game tourney with nine points, including five goals, and received the tournament’s most outstanding forward award.

The Martlets, who outscored their opponents 21-2 over the weekend, extended their win streak to 36 straight games against Canadian university opponents.

The victory over the nation’s No. 8-ranked team improved McGill’s record to 9-0 against teams listed in the CIS Top 10 this season, outscoring those squads by a 62-12 margin.

McGill resumes regular-season play on Saturday when they travel to the nation’s capital to play Carleton. <@RBi>―Complied by Michael Piasetzki & Albert Kramberger<@$p>