Ray LeBlanc
Encyclopedia
Raymond J. LeBlanc is a retired American professional ice hockey
goaltender
. He is best known as the goaltender for the United States team at the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville, France
. He was never drafted in the National Hockey League
.
After playing two seasons of junior hockey in Ontario
, LeBlanc turned professional and joined the Pineridge Bucks of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
for the 1984–85 season. He then played one season for the ACHL's Carolina Thunderbirds
before moving on to the International Hockey League, where he would spend the majority of his career. In his IHL rookie season, 1986–87 with the Flint Spirits
, LeBlanc appeared in 63 games and was awarded the Ken McKenzie Trophy
as the top American-born rookie in the league.
LeBlanc played for the IHL's Flint Spirits
, Saginaw Hawks
, Indianapolis Ice
, Fort Wayne Komets
, Cincinnati Cyclones
and Chicago Wolves
during his career. LeBlanc spent the final two seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Lizard Kings
of the ECHL
and retired after the 1999–2000 season.
LeBlanc appeared in one National Hockey League
game in his career, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
during the 1991–92 season. His appearance likely came to allow the Blackhawks to exploit a loophole in the NHL's rules for the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
, where each team had to expose a goaltender who had appeared in at least one game during 1991–92. LeBlanc was activated and placed into his only game on March 10, 1992, therefore meaning the Blackhawks would not have to expose any of their top three goaltenders: Ed Belfour
, Dominik Hašek
and Jimmy Waite
. LeBlanc allowed only one goal, earning the victory as the Blackhawks defeated the San Jose Sharks
, 5–1.
At the 1992 Winter Olympics
, LeBlanc appeared in all eight games for the United States, compiling a record of 5–2–1 with two shutouts. The Americans finished out of the medals, however, as they lost 6–1 to Czechoslovakia
in the bronze medal game.
Although he only made one NHL appearance, LeBlanc was included in NHLPA 93 on the roster of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is the lowest rated goalie on their team.
In 2007, LeBlanc became a member of Calvary Chapel St Pete in FL. In 2008, he gave his life to Christ and became a born again
Christian
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. He is best known as the goaltender for the United States team at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1992 Winter Olympics was held at the Méribel Ice Palace in Méribel, a ski resort about 45 km from host city Albertville. The competition, held from 8 to 23 February, was won by the Unified Team.-Final rankings:# # # # # # #...
in Albertville, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was never drafted in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
After playing two seasons of junior hockey in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, LeBlanc turned professional and joined the Pineridge Bucks of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
Atlantic Coast Hockey League
The Atlantic Coast Hockey League was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey....
for the 1984–85 season. He then played one season for the ACHL's Carolina Thunderbirds
Carolina Thunderbirds
The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989...
before moving on to the International Hockey League, where he would spend the majority of his career. In his IHL rookie season, 1986–87 with the Flint Spirits
Flint Spirits
The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985–1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League, and replaced the recently departed Flint Generals team. They compiled an overall record of 162–220–28...
, LeBlanc appeared in 63 games and was awarded the Ken McKenzie Trophy
Ken McKenzie Trophy
The Ken McKenzie Trophy is awarded annually to the Central Hockey League's leading points scorer in the regular season. The award is named for Ken McKenzie, the co-founder and longtime president and publisher of The Hockey News....
as the top American-born rookie in the league.
LeBlanc played for the IHL's Flint Spirits
Flint Spirits
The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985–1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League, and replaced the recently departed Flint Generals team. They compiled an overall record of 162–220–28...
, Saginaw Hawks
Saginaw Hawks
The Saginaw Hawks competed in the International Hockey League from 1987–89. Prominent former Saginaw Hawks include goalie Eddie Belfour. The team was formerly known as the Saginaw Generals from 1985–87....
, Indianapolis Ice
Indianapolis Ice
The Indianapolis Ice is the name of a former hockey team in Indianapolis, Indiana, that played in the International Hockey League from 1988–99 and in the Central Hockey League from 1999–2004. Their original home arena was the Indiana State Fairgrounds Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds...
, Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
, Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
and Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
during his career. LeBlanc spent the final two seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Jacksonville Lizard Kings were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Formerly known as the Louisville Icehawks, they played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1995–2000...
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
and retired after the 1999–2000 season.
LeBlanc appeared in one National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
game in his career, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
during the 1991–92 season. His appearance likely came to allow the Blackhawks to exploit a loophole in the NHL's rules for the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
1992 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1992 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 18, 1992. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1992–93 season, the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Rules:...
, where each team had to expose a goaltender who had appeared in at least one game during 1991–92. LeBlanc was activated and placed into his only game on March 10, 1992, therefore meaning the Blackhawks would not have to expose any of their top three goaltenders: Ed Belfour
Ed Belfour
Edward John Belfour is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the...
, Dominik Hašek
Dominik Hašek
Dominik Hašek is a Czech ice hockey goaltender who is currently with HC Spartak Moscow of the KHL.In his 16-season National Hockey League career, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and the Ottawa Senators. During his years in Buffalo, he became one of the...
and Jimmy Waite
Jimmy Waite
James Dean Waite is a retired goaltender.-Career:Waite was one of the highest-rated goalies in the late 1980s and many scouts believed he had the potential to become a star...
. LeBlanc allowed only one goal, earning the victory as the Blackhawks defeated the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, 5–1.
At the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
, LeBlanc appeared in all eight games for the United States, compiling a record of 5–2–1 with two shutouts. The Americans finished out of the medals, however, as they lost 6–1 to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovak national ice hockey team
The Czechoslovak national men's ice hockey team was one of the world's premiere teams during the Soviet dominated international hockey era, often fighting Sweden for second place but sometimes beating the Soviets...
in the bronze medal game.
Although he only made one NHL appearance, LeBlanc was included in NHLPA 93 on the roster of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is the lowest rated goalie on their team.
In 2007, LeBlanc became a member of Calvary Chapel St Pete in FL. In 2008, he gave his life to Christ and became a born again
Born again
In Christianity, born again refers to a "spiritual rebirth" of the human soul or spirit, contrasted with the physical birth everyone experiences. The origin of the term "born again" is the New Testament: "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
.
Awards
- Ken McKenzie TrophyKen McKenzie TrophyThe Ken McKenzie Trophy is awarded annually to the Central Hockey League's leading points scorer in the regular season. The award is named for Ken McKenzie, the co-founder and longtime president and publisher of The Hockey News....
(best American-born rookie in the IHL): 1986–87 season