He certainly has taken the long skate home.
Derek LeBlanc basically launched his hockey career while with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. From there, he tried out for an NHL team, played college shinny, moved on to the CHL and now, the Ninette, Man., native is trying to make the jump to the AHL's Manitoba Moose.
"I took a path that not many people take," LeBlanc, 23, conceded yesterday. "I went to the Edmonton Oilers training camp when I was 20 and that was a good experience for me there. But I decided I wanted to use my college (eligibility) up and go to university there. I went to the University of Lethbridge and at the end of that year, I just realized it just wasn't for me. I didn't really like the (lack of) intensity of the hockey there at that level so, I decided to make the switch to pro hockey.
"I went down to the (CHL's) Rocky Mountain Rage. Then I got picked up by the Rapid City Rush and played there last year and that helped me out a lot. We didn't have a real great team there so, I got a lot of opportunity to play. So, I had a pretty solid camp here and ended up sticking around with the team so it was real nice. I was real fortunate."
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward scored 26 goals and 45 points in 64 games with the Rush last season. Because of all the injuries and call-ups thus far, LeBlanc is getting a chance he may not have otherwise gotten.
"Obviously, you don't want to see guys get hurt," LeBlanc said. "But with the number of injuries we've had here, it's giving guys opportunities and giving guys a lot of different roles that maybe they're not used to. But I'm just trying to make the most of it right now until the guys get healthier."
Manitoba coach Scott Arniel has been impressed with LeBlanc's patience.
"Derek is a guy who showed a lot in training camp," Arniel said. "Early on in the year when we were healthy, he was kind of the odd guy out. But he worked hard in practice and just continued to stay with it, with all that's gone on and the lineup changes. He's been patient but when he's gotten his chance, he's gone in and played well.
"He knows his role, that he might be in and out, depending on how the lineup goes but he has to practise hard and be ready to go. He's been comfortable with that role and you never know, maybe as the year goes on, that role gets bigger. It's just the kind of hand he's been dealt but he's handled it very, very professionally."
LeBlanc has only registered one assist in nine games but playing closer to home is a bonus.
"My family lives an hour and a half from here in a little town called Ninette so, they're pretty excited," he said. "They come in pretty well every weekend to watch and it's great for them and great for me, too ... I really like it here.
"You always want to gwet to that next level and I think there's still one more step to be made. But right now, I'm happy to be here and I'm going to work as hard as I can here and hopefully, stick around for a while."
jim.bender@sunmedia.ca
