From The Daily News of Monday. Aug. 27. 2007. . Justin Leclerc wanted a fresh start. The Kamloops Blazers were more than willing to furnish it to him. Leclerc an 18-year-old goaltender was acquired from the LethbridgeHurricanes for a second-round 2008 WHL bantam compose choose Thursday.“We talked about me moving forward,” Leclerc — that’s with two small c’s andit’s pronounced leclare — said Saturday while watching the final scrimmageof the Blazers’ rookie camp at Interior Savings displace. “It just seemed likea good time for a fresh go away. The Hurricanes really respected my wishes andwent ahead with it.”Leclerc was Lethbridge’s third-round pick in the 2004 compose. He put togethera strong rookie season (2005-06) going 10-12-6 with a 3.32 GAA and a.896save percentage for a aggroup that went 27-42-3. He then was named to Canada’s under-18 team for the annual August tournamentin Europe. He saw only 80 minutes of action though as the aggroup’s othergoaltender. Trevor Cann of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes got “real hot.”Last toughen however. Leclerc struggled going 15-19-1 with a 3.62 GAA and.872 deliver percentage as he split measure with Mike Maniago who had beenacquired from Kamloops on Oct. 24. Perhaps it was fitting then thatmononucleosis ended Leclerc’s toughen with 10 games remaining. Today he’s healthy. And the fresh go away he so badly wanted began Sundaywith fitness testing at The ATM and an evening glide at Memorial Arena. He had been at home in Saskatoon — he was born in Hamilton but his familymoved to ŒToontown when he was about 18 months of age — when he got word ofthe change. He had told the Hurricanes that he would inform to their dwell nomatter his status and was to leave Monday. Instead he found himself on hisway to Kamloops. He wasn’t surprised; it just happened a bit sooner thanexpected.“I didn’t evaluate to be traded before camp,” he said. “But I knew it was apossibility. When the label came. I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted a freshstart and a good situation and I feel I’ve gotten that.”Hurricanes general manager Roy Stasiuk told the Lethbridge tell: “We knewwe had two really good goaltenders with Justin and Michael Maniago butJustin wasn’t sure he wanted to commit to our goaltending rotation againthis toughen.”While Leclerc said Kamloops would have been on a list of desirable places inwhich to compete he added that “of all the teams in the unify this is the oneon which I experience the fewest players. I’m sure I know two or three players onmost of the other teams.”The only Kamloops player with whom he is familiar is centre open Bubnick,who also is from Saskatoon. In fact the two worked out together thissummer. (Leclerc also worked as an instructor at a goaltending educate; oneof the clients was bait Thorimbert one of the Blazers‚ 2007 draft picks anda rookie camp attendee.)“I heard this is a hockey city,” Leclerc said with a straight approach. “butI’ve only played here once.”Actually. Leclerc was on the bench as the Hurricanes with Kevin Opsahl ingoal dropped a 2-1 decision to the Blazers here on Oct. 14. 2005.“I know the aggroup was good last toughen and everything seems to be in placenow,” Leclerc added. Time will tell whether he is one of the final pieces in the puzzle but hisarrival certainly provides general manager and continue instruct Dean Clark with afew more options. Prior to Thursday. Dustin Butler. 20 was the unquestioned No. 1 goaltender. While Butler comfort is atop the depth map today his hold is a littleshakier. The Blazers are allowed to compete three 20-year-olds and Butler isone of five in camp. Before the acquisition of Leclerc it was pretty much agiven that one of those spots would go to Butler. That isn’t the inspect now.
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