EIHL Player of Week: Alex Leclerc

Dundee Stars’ fortunes have turned around of late, with the team unbeaten in their last five games.

A key part of that turnaround has been netminder Alex Leclerc, who has stopped over 94.5% of shots in that time. Backstopping the team to a win and a draw in Week 13 sees Leclerc chosen as our Player of the Week!

With a draw and a win in back-to-back home games, it was a good weekend for the Stars. “Yes exactly, as a group we tried to approach the Challenge Cup to get ahead at home – or at least to finish tied up, and I think we’re in a good spot for the second leg in the Quarter-Finals,” explained the Stars’ stopper. “We wanted to use our fan base as our fans are a massive asset of this team, and we’re comfortable with the position we’ve put ourselves in. We’ll work hard and get ready for the game in Glasgow and look to play our best hockey there. It’s one of our major short-term goals to do well in the Challenge Cup.”

He continued: “We have so many skilled players offensively on our team and to play against a hot goalie like Patrick Killeen was very frustrating for them. So then to get rewarded by scoring seven against a team like Coventry was very pleasing for our group, and has given us more confidence going into the next weekend.”

After a run of bad results, the Stars have turned a corner going unbeaten in five. How has the mood changed in their locker room? “I think there’s much less stress in our locker room, we’re all enjoying every day and whenever you’re experiencing success it’s always easier. When you’re on a losing streak you start questioning yourselves when perhaps you shouldn’t, and should rather focus on what you do well and learning from mistakes,” said Leclerc. “Since we’ve had good results lately, everyone has been bringing their best hockey. It’s much easier to bring your best when the atmosphere is positive and everyone as a smile on their face.

The team that gives up the most goals on average of any in the Elite League, what’s changed over the past few weeks to get the Stars put of their slump and on to a positive run? “I believe that everyone has bought into our defensive zone system. One of our major changes that we made after our losing slump was focussing part of our fore-check,” explained the 24-year-old. “I think our whole defensive unit is much better because we come back with speed and use our tradition as one of our best assets to create offense. Personal stats are great, but the true reflection of how well you’re doing is as a group.”

When you’re the goalie of the team that is giving up the most goals per game, does that alter how you think and focus? “I don’t think focusing on statistics particularly affects us or anyone on our team. At the end of the game, we want to be on the winning team – if that’s 10-9 or 1-0 I think the most important thing is the win column,” affirmed Leclerc. “Of course you want to lower your goals-against average and increase your goals for, but hockey’s a tricky game. We saw against Glasgow that in an 80-second lapse you can concede three goals, but also we’re capable of scoring that many in 90 seconds. So the focus in on playing the same way for the 60+ minutes of a game and most importantly getting the result.”

For Leclerc, it’s been a new experience playing his first season in professional hockey. “It’s wonderful, I’m absolutely enjoying every minute of it. To have a crack at playing hockey after finishing university is such a great experience for me, and I’m cherishing every moment,” he added. “It’s wonderful to be supported the way we are in Dundee by the team, fans and the Ward family. It was a complete unknown for me coming into my first professional season, but I feel very comfortable just having to focus on the on-ice performance. I’ve been used to a lifestyle where you’re always on the go and always in a rush, so there are a lot of positives to not being always stressed to do something. The aspect of rest and recovery is well increased this year, whereas in college you always moved on to next thing. I love to cook, so being able to take time after practice and enjoy little things in your routine is great.”

After revealing that hobby, we couldn’t possibly let Leclerc go before finding out what his specialty is! “In the morning I’m an eggs and vegetables person – at night my ‘go-to’ is pesto chicken with sweet potato” concluded the Canadian.