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Wade LeBlanc Named December Volunteer of the Month

By Minnesota Hockey, 12/13/16, 1:30PM CST

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Congratulations to Wade LeBlanc of Silver Bay Blue Line Club!

Congratulations to Wade LeBlanc of the Silver Bay Blue Line Club on being named December’s Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month! LeBlanc has spent over 25 years volunteering as a coach and board member in Silver Bay, including more than ten years without a child in the program.

LeBlanc grew up in the Silver Bay program, and after a short stint in the Twin Cities area following college, he returned to his roots. LeBlanc has been coaching local teams ever since and has served as the Silver Bay Blue Line Club’s Vice President (four years) and President (current) for over 15 years.

We sat down with Wade to see what motivates him to give so much back to the hockey community.

Minnesota Hockey: What was the reason you initially got involved?

Wade LeBlanc: I’m from Silver Bay so I played my youth hockey here. I moved back home in 1990, and I started coaching Peewees just to give back to the program that was so good to me.  

MH: What keeps you motivated to stay involved now that you’re kids are out of the program?

WL: I just love the game and the kids. I’ve been around long enough where I’ve coached kids of the kids I’ve coached. That’s a long time. It’s gratifying. You’re not just teaching the game of hockey. You’re teaching a game of life skills like respect and responsibility.  The game is such a small portion of what you’re doing.

MH: Over the years, what has been the biggest surprise you’ve encountered?

WL: It’s unbelievable the different jobs that people need to fulfill to make youth hockey go. From tournament hostesses to the concessions stands, skate sharpening and everything else that goes into making it better for the kids, it’s unbelievable the amount of volunteers it takes to put it on.

When you don’t have a kid in the program and you’re coaching, all you have to do is show up for practices and games. There’s way more to it than meets the eye. There are a lot of volunteers that make it go.

MH: What’s the most rewarding part of being a youth hockey volunteer?

WL: I love just helping people.  That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to help kids. That’s the bottom line is helping kids and trying to make an impact on their life.

Minnesota Hockey and Total Hockey would like to give Wade LeBlanc a special thank you for everything he’s done to provide a great youth hockey experience for kids in Silver Bay!

Know a volunteer in your community who is doing an amazing job and deserves to be recognized? Nominate him or her today for the Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month! Each recipient receives a certificate recognizing their hard work and a $100 Total Hockey gift card to use online or in the store.

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