LeBlanc brothers make Allan Cup a family affair

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This article was published 01/04/2019 (2639 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A pair of Brandon brothers are hoping to help the South East Prairie Thunder bring home an Allan Cup championship next week in Lacombe, Alta.

Derek and Devon LeBlanc will join a team that certainly has a Westman flair, with former Wheat Kings Tyler Dittmer of Brandon, Paul Ciarelli of Winnipeg and Reid Gow of Killarney also playing. In addition, Brock Nixon of Russell, Ian Lowe of Bradwardine, Brad Cole of Miniota and Troy Hunter of Virden are also on the roster.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Derek LeBlanc said. “If not for him being a part of the team, I’m not too sure if I would have joined the team but obviously any time you get an opportunity to play with your brother in a national event, it’s a pretty exciting thing for both him and I. We haven’t been skating a whole lot, but we kind of push each other to make sure that we’re staying in shape and ready to go for the event.”

The LeBlanc brothers played together for Saskatchewan’s Rosetown Red Wings a year ago for a host team that went 0-1-2.

It’s the fourth Allan Cup appearance for Devon, who had nine goals and seven assists in 10 games with the Prairie Thunder in 2012, the Île-des-Chênes North Stars in 2016 and Rosetown in 2018.

“Obviously this year it’s extra special for me because Derek and I are going to play together,” Devon said. “That’s something that we’ve wanted to do for a while. We were on the same team in Rosetown but didn’t play a ton together. It’s a week away, my brother is going to take his family and I’m taking mine. Our kids can play together and it’s a family time away, which will be nice too.”

South East has previously won titles in 2012 and 2015, and were finalists in 2009 and 2016.

The six-team tournament begins with South East opening against Lacombe on Monday, April 8 at 9 p.m. The Prairie Thunder then meet the Haut-Madawaska Pantheres on Wednesday at 9 p.m.

In the other pool, Innisfail and Stoney Creek are joined by Rosetown. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals.

Derek, 33, who now lives in Virden after a five-year professional hockey career, said everything is different when guys have families and jobs and are taking time off to play.

“I guess the biggest thing is that the competitive nature still comes out when you get to an event like that,” he said. “It’s kind of funny, you get your lanyards and your T-shirts and you feel like you’re still really playing for something competitive. And all the guys, if you’re going to go out and play at our age, you definitely want to win.”

South East has only competed together twice this year because the road to the national championship hit a bump in Manitoba.

Île-des-Chênes dropped out in January, leaving the Norway House Bruins and Ste. Anne Aces battling in a three-game series in February for the right to play South East.

Ste. Anne won that series 2-1, but the Prairie Thunder then defeated the Aces 4-3 in double overtime on March 3 and 4-0 on March 15 for the chance to return to the national event. South East didn’t field a complete roster for either game.

Devon said the number of former pros on the team makes coming together much easier.

“Everybody just kind of gets it,” the 33-year-old noted. “Everybody clicks. We have so many good players and they know the role that they’re going to play. We have guys who played at a high level and when it comes time to play, there’s a little bit of chatter in the room but not a whole lot. Guys just kind of know what to expect.”

A number of familiar faces will be competing on the other teams, including former Wheat King Jordan Fransoo on Rosetown, Chad Robinson of Minnedosa and former Wheat King Jonathan Aitken on Innisfail and former Brandon goalie Jacob Deserres on Lacombe.

Another of the newcomers to South East is Cole, who wrapped up an 11-year professional career after last season. The 32-year-old defenceman is playing in his first Allan Cup.

“It really wasn’t on my radar,” Cole said. “I’d kind of felt like I had my fun in the sun and then the opportunity presented itself. I thought it was kind of a neat opportunity to play with some guys who I haven’t even seen in 15 years. Then when you go to the tournament, you’re playing against guys who you played against your whole career at some point.”

Cole was only able to play in the double-overtime game against Ste. Anne, so he’s seen his Prairie Thunder teammates just once and that was with several guys missing. He still came away impressed.

Cole was wowed by goalie Steve Christie, and credits him for the victory in Game 1 over Ste. Anne. He notes the club also has tremendous depth.

“Our forward group is fairly skilled and our speed and ability to compete allows us to adapt to whatever kind of game,” Cole said. “We have enough skill guys but also enough guys who can play a physical game.”

He said the defence moves the puck well and is confident in its own end.

Derek LeBlanc, who will participate in his second Allan Cup, played against South East for a few years, and said they are known for good systems.

“I said in the dressing room after the game when we won against Ste. Anne that it’s nice to be on this side of the coin this year because they play such a tight system and have great leaders in the room,” he said. “It’s kind of funny because you don’t normally see that from a group of guys who don’t play together all year, but it’s like everybody knows their role and does it and they play a really tight checking game.”

His younger brother said it’s certainly a special event that brings back a lot of memories. He can’t wait to get to Lacombe, which is just north of Red Deer.

“It’s a hockey town,” Devon said. “They always have a strong group there, they get a ton of fans to all the games and it’s almost like when we played in the Western (Hockey) League and we played pro. We get on a bus with the group of the guys and we get away for a week. It brings back a lot of memories, and we’re playing against guys who we either played with or against at high levels so you see those guys again.

“It’s a special week for sure.”

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