Mark Letestu is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on February 4, 1985, in Elk Point, Alberta, Canada. Letestu began his hockey career playing for the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) before moving on to play for Western Michigan University in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).
After college, Letestu signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. He spent the majority of his first two seasons with the Penguins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 2009, Letestu made his NHL debut with the Penguins and played in 10 games that season.
Letestu became a regular in the Penguins' lineup during the 2010-2011 season, playing in 64 games and scoring 14 goals and 13 assists. He was a key contributor to the Penguins' success that season, helping them reach the playoffs. Letestu continued to play for the Penguins for the next two seasons before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012.
Letestu played for the Blue Jackets for two seasons before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. He played for the Oilers for two seasons before being traded back to the Blue Jackets in 2018. Letestu finished his NHL career playing for the Winnipeg Jets during the 2019-2020 season.
Throughout his NHL career, Letestu was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions. He was primarily a center but also played on the wing and was a key contributor on the power play and penalty kill. Letestu was also known for his leadership and work ethic, serving as an alternate captain for the Blue Jackets during his second stint with the team.
In addition to his NHL career, Letestu also represented Canada internationally, playing for the country at the 2011 Spengler Cup and the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Overall, Letestu had a successful NHL career, playing in 567 games and scoring 93 goals and 117 assists. He was a reliable and consistent player who was respected by his teammates and coaches. After retiring from hockey, Letestu joined the coaching staff of the Western Michigan University hockey team.
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