Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Shoot: L
Born: 20 Oct 1946, South Durham PQ
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Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)
| year | team | |||||||||||
| 1972-73 | Los Angele | |||||||||||
| 1973-74 | Los Angeles | |||||||||||
| 1974-75 | Mich.-Balt. | |||||||||||
| 1975-76 | Denver-Ottawa | |||||||||||
| Totals: |
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No One Better than Leblanc • by Dan Hafner • The Hockey Spectator • November 16, 1973
There may be other centers who shoot better and some who skate better, but the Sharks are convinced there is not a better all-round center in the WHA than Jean-Paul (J.P.) Leblanc. On a team that outscored only two other WHA teams because it stressed defense, Leblanc was the playmaker. He made 50 assists and still found time to score 19 goals, a total topped by only two of his teammates. An indication of the value of the 27-year-old from South Durham, Quebec, was made clear this year. Most of the season the left winger on Leblanc's line was Gary Veneruzzo, who not coincidentally, led the Sharks with 43 goals. Coach Terry Slater, in an effort to get more scoring punch, moved Leblanc to a new line. The new line started scoring, but Veneruzzo and Alton White, slowed perceptively in their scoring. One of the characteristics that make J. P. such a good center is that he is fearless. Only 5-9, the stocky Leblanc, will wait until the last moment to give up the puck when a burly defenseman is charging him, knowing full well he is in for punishment. "J. P. frustrates the opposition," said Slater. "That's why the defensemen run at him and leave the wings uncovered. Moreover, he controls the puck so well, it is futile to attempt to take it away from him. He'll give the defense a little dypsy-do and find his winger open for the good shot. I'd like to see him shoot a little more, but really, 1 don't want him to change very much." It is a new season and Leblanc is getting used to new wingers, Marc Tardif and Brian McDonald. This trio almost always runs up against the best line the opposition has. Leblanc is just beginning to get together with his new teammates. "Actually, it's not too difficult," said Leblanc, "because it seems that I've always piayed for coaches who constantly juggle their lines. That way I've been used to playing with all types and it really works out in my favor." Desire is considered one of Leblanc's biggest assets. It first showed itself before he was a teenager. South Durham is a town of about 500. Although most people think that all Canadian youngsters have a rink nearby, it's just not so. There was no rink in South Durham, so when J. P. wanted to play hockey he had to walk three miles to the nearest pond. When he was 15, he had to go 20 miles to Drummondville so he could play on a team. He was one youngster who really wanted to play. The desire hasn't changed, although he spent some frustrating years in the Chicago Black Hawks' organization. In his first year out of the juniors, J. P. had a big season with Dallas in the Central League and the Black Hawks brought him to camp before the 1968-69 season. In his first National Hockey League game, Leblanc scored a goal. But he played only six NHL games, was sent back to Dallas and never given another chance by the Black Hawks. During the 1971-72 season he led the Central League with 68 assists, then scored 13 points in 12 playoff games. Suddenly, coinciding with the forming of the World Hockey Association, the Black Hawks became interested' in their farmhand. They offered him a two-year, no-cut contract. "I felt they had never given me a real chance," said Leblanc, "So when the offer came from the Sharks I decided this was my real break. We were slow to get going, but I think everyone finally settled down and now I know I made the right move." All through his junior career, Leblanc was called Jean-Paul, but when he went to Dallas the people there had trouble pronouncing Jean (like John), so Leblanc finally gave up and switched to initials. It seems Texans go for initials. He was a big favorite with the fans because of his fearlessness and hustle. Jean-Paul or J. P., the Sharks are happy to have him. |
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Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1973-74 (by Reyn Davis & Charley Hallman)
He proved his playmaking ability in 1972-73 as he had 50 assists and 19 goals for the Sharks ... A fine passer, Leblanc has a knack with the puck and was Los Angeles' second leading scorer ... an ex-Black Hawk farmhand, J.P. had a fine season in 1971-72 with Dallas, knocking in 22 goals and contributing 68 assists for 90 points ... His ten points in the playoffs led Dallas to the CHL title ... Leblanc's only shot with the parent club came in 1968-69 when he played in six Chicago games. |
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