Mike Leclerc is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger. He was born on October 12, 1976, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Leclerc started his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kamloops Blazers in the 1994-95 season. He played for the Blazers for three seasons and was a key player in their 1995 and 1999 Memorial Cup championship teams.
In 1997, Leclerc was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the second round, 33rd overall. He made his NHL debut with the Ducks in the 1998-99 season and played in 12 games, scoring one goal and two assists. Leclerc spent most of his time in the minors during his first few seasons, playing for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League (AHL).
In the 2001-02 season, Leclerc was traded to the Minnesota Wild, where he played in 57 games and scored 12 goals and 11 assists. He had his best season in the NHL in the 2002-03 season, scoring 22 goals and 19 assists in 78 games for the Wild. Leclerc was a key player for the Wild in their run to the Western Conference Finals that season.
After four seasons with the Wild, Leclerc signed as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2004. He played in 67 games for the Avalanche in the 2004-05 season, scoring 14 goals and 12 assists. Leclerc played one more season with the Avalanche before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2006.
Leclerc played in 22 games for the Penguins in the 2006-07 season, scoring two goals and three assists. He was then traded to the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played in 16 games before being sent down to the AHL. Leclerc played his last professional season in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage in the 2007-08 season.
In total, Leclerc played in 303 NHL games, scoring 67 goals and 57 assists. He was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals in front of the net. Leclerc was also a solid penalty killer and was a key player on the power play.
After retiring from hockey, Leclerc became a firefighter in his hometown of Winnipeg. He also coaches youth hockey and is involved in various charitable organizations. Leclerc is remembered as a hard-working player who gave his all on the ice and was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
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