Leblanc looks forward to an exciting semi-final battle

In 2018-2019 the top four scorers in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Hockey all wore the jerseys of the NAIT Ooks.

Leading the way was Verca Kuzelovw 13 goals, 13 assists 26 points; Brittney Savard, 6 goals, 17 assists, 23 points; Megan Leblanc, 11 goals 11 assists 22 points and Carlin Boey with 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points.

Despite their offensive muscle, the Ooks would be swept 3-0 in the best-of-five ACAC championships by two-time defending champion Grant MacEwan University Griffins.

This year the Ooks only had two players in the Top 10 scoring parade with Leblanc No. 1 with 14 goals and 11 assists in 21 games while teammate Lívia Lučová is No. 5 in total points with 4 goals and 14 assists.

"As a rookie, I watched some of my hockey idols, and now it was my time to step up," said Leblanc.

Leblanc, a 5-foot-6 forward from Estevan, Saskatchewan, gained attention in 2014-2015 while playing for the Estevan Power Tech Bear Cats Girls Midget AA team in the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League.

In 27 games, she would score an impressive 31 goals while adding 17 assists.

The next season 2015-2016 was spent with the prestigious Notre Dame Hounds out of Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan.

"We travelled all across North America, and it was excellent hockey," recalls Leblanc, splitting time between the Hounds playing in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League (28 games 10 goals 8 assists 18 points) and Junior Hockey Women's League Hounds (11 games 2 goals 2 assists).

Before signing on with the Ooks she suited up for the Melville Fox FM Prairie Fire in their orange and red jerseys. She was second in team scoring with 27 games 24 goals and 15 assists. Teammate and top scorer Sami Jo Henry is now playing for Minot State University.

Having started hockey around "the age of four," Leblanc's rookie season in the ACAC 2017-2018 had the Ooks claiming ACAC bronze while she skated in 22 games with 9 goals and 6 assists.

This year the Ooks open the best-of-three semi-finals against the Red Deer Queens Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, while the Griffins take on the SAIT Trojans in the other best-of-three starting tonight.

"This year has not been the best year in terms of wins," admits Leblanc. "But I think we have come together and are excited to get the playoffs started."

In regards to any setbacks in her hockey career, which she hopes to continue to be involved with as a personal trainer or coach, Leblanc said she broke her left femur in Bantam hockey.

"I was maybe 14 at the time. It took a long time to heal. My first year at NAIT was probably the first year that it was fully recovered."

Laced up and walking out of the locker room to the ice to the tune of Rev Theory, "Hell Yeah," is the song that Leblanc says, "Gets the girls going."