John LeClair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John LeClair
LeClair in November 2013
Born	(1969-07-05) July 5, 1969 (age 55) St. Albans, Vermont, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins
National team	United States
NHL Draft	33rd overall, 1987 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	1991–2006
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 2002 Salt Lake City Team competition

John Clark LeClair (born July 5, 1969) is a famous American ice hockey player. He played professionally for 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). From 1991 to 2006, he played for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. With the Flyers, LeClair made history. He was the first American-born player to score 50 goals in three straight NHL seasons. He did this while playing on a famous line called the Legion of Doom. His teammates on this line were Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg. LeClair also won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

John LeClair was born on July 5, 1969. His hometown was St. Albans, Vermont. This town is very close to the Canadian border. His dad, Robert "Butch" LeClair, managed a paint store. His mom, Beverly, was a nurse. John has three older sisters and a younger brother.

Even though his dad never played hockey, John loved the sport. At age six, he asked his dad for hockey skates. Back then, there was no organized hockey in St. Albans. But kids found ways to play. They played in an old railroad shed. Later, people built a simple arena called Coote Field. It was a metal shack with a snack bar. It had an old tractor to scrape the ice. It was basic, but it helped create good hockey players.

A friend's dad, Richard Benoit, even made a rink in his backyard. He flooded his volleyball court. He added boards and lights for night games. There was also a warm shack for the kids to use.

High School and College Hockey Journey

When John was a freshman at Bellows Free Academy, he didn't make the high school team. It was a very competitive team. So, he kept playing in community leagues. In his second year, John made the team. He quickly started to get noticed. A teammate, Luke Cioffi, remembered how John would fight for the puck. He would be "five against one, somehow getting the puck out of the corner."

College scouts soon started watching him. This happened when he played in Hockey Night in Boston. This event shows off young hockey talent. LeClair decided to go to college. He was accepted at the University of Vermont (UVM). His college career had some challenges. He had injuries during his second and third years. He only played in 28 games during that time. In his final year, he missed the first month because of meningitis. But he finished strong. He scored 25 goals and 20 assists in just 33 games.

Playing Career Highlights

Montreal Canadiens: Stanley Cup Glory

The Montreal Canadiens picked John LeClair in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 33rd player chosen. After high school, LeClair decided to go to the University of Vermont. He received a full scholarship for hockey. Fans didn't wait long to see him score. He scored in his very first college game. After his senior year, he signed with the Canadiens. Less than a week later, he played in his first NHL game and scored.

As a member of the Canadiens, LeClair won the Stanley Cup in 1993. This is one of the biggest trophies in hockey. He scored two game-winning goals in overtime during the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals. This made him the first player from Vermont to have his name on the Stanley Cup.

Philadelphia Flyers: The Legion of Doom

On February 9, 1995, LeClair was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Canadiens were having a tough season. LeClair, Éric Desjardins, and Gilbert Dionne went to the Flyers. In return, the Canadiens got Mark Recchi. LeClair quickly connected with his new teammate, Eric Lindros. He became one of the NHL's best goal scorers.

With the Flyers, he played left-wing on the famous "Legion of Doom" line. Lindros was the center, and Mikael Renberg played right-wing. This trio was amazing at scoring goals. They were also very strong and physical on the ice. In 1998, LeClair became the first American-born NHL player to score 50 goals in three seasons in a row. Only one other Flyer, Tim Kerr, had done this before. After the 1997–98 season, LeClair had two more seasons where he scored 40 goals.

During his first five years with the Flyers, LeClair was chosen for the NHL All-Star team. He was on the first team twice and the second team three times. He played for the Flyers for 10 seasons. He was one of their most successful players ever. He scored 333 goals for the team. He also scored 35 more goals in the playoffs. These numbers put him in the top 10 Flyers' career goal scorers.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Final Seasons

LeClair with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006

On July 23, 2005, the Flyers had to let LeClair go. This was because of new league rules about player salaries. LeClair signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 15, 2005. He had a good season with Pittsburgh in 2005–06. He was fourth on the team in scoring. He also passed the amazing mark of 400 career goals.

In the 2006–07 season, LeClair struggled. He scored only two goals and five assists in 21 games. On December 14, 2006, he and the Penguins agreed to end his contract. LeClair retired from playing hockey after that season.

Life After Hockey and Recognition

LeClair signing autographs at Dick's Sporting Goods in 2014.

John LeClair is the president of the John LeClair Foundation. This foundation gives money to non-profit groups in Vermont. These groups help children with different programs. Today, he lives in both Haverford Township, Pennsylvania and his hometown of St. Albans, Vermont.

LeClair has been honored many times for his hockey career. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, he joined the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. And in 2014, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame. In June 2023, the Flyers hired LeClair again. He now works as a special advisor for their hockey operations.

Awards and Honors

College Achievements

Professional Awards

International Honors