After the Stanley Cup last season, Kristopher Letang received another great honor yesterday.
The back of the Pittsburgh Penguins was named as the best defender of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League.
The Kristopher Letang / Confort Quality trophy will be awarded annually to the skater par excellence at this position in the Baillairgé circuit.
“It is a great honor,” said Letang, who carried the colors of the Gauls of Collège Antoine-Girouard during the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons. When you’re young and you start playing, you never think it’s going to happen.
“Having my name alongside Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, Daniel Brière and Mario Lemieux is something that touches me tremendously.”
During his time in the Quebec AAA Migdet League, Letang collected 67 points in 81 games in the regular season. In the series, he has won 25 in 27 games, but he has mostly participated in the conquest of two championships with the Gauls.
“These are the two most beautiful hockey years of my life,” said the winner of two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. There was no business or gaming.
“I really have some great memories, including my participation in the Air Canada Cup.”
A player “at ease”
Letang marked the history of the League Midget AAA, but also the organization of the Gauls.
The training governor based in Saint-Hyacinthe had an anecdote about his former back.
“I called him the kid at ease when he came to us at the age of 15 because of the confidence he had in his means,” said Yves Sansfaçon. These words had been placed above his locker in the locker room instead of his name.
“On the other hand, it was good self-confidence. There was nothing arrogant about it. ”
He also said that his coach of the time did not have to motivate him to deliver the goods on the ice.
“You did not have to push him in the back,” Sansfaçon said. He wanted to win and he wanted to perform at all the presences. You could have given him 35-40 minutes of play and he would have done it.
“He already had incredible skills.”
More fear than harm
In the last few days, several fans have taken their breath when Letang injured his left leg Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.
“I should not be out of the game for too long,” said the 29-year-old defender who moves without the help of crutches. At the time, I was afraid it would be more serious.
“It’s not a dangerous wound. I’m out of the game more by preventive measure. ”
Previously, the award for the best defender was called the Michel-Daoust Trophy. It will now be awarded to the pedagogical advisor of the year.
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LNH.CA – Kristopher Letang is reassuring Quebecers and says his most recent injury is not serious