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LeSage provides Triton with a security blanket in front of net

Friday, February, 01 By John Shimer
Staff writer

Triton's Chris LeSage is worth the price of admission | a big, fast, do-it-all defenseman.

The Vikings' senior captain and his senior mates careers are headed down the home stretch of what has been a phenomenal four-year run.

The Vikings' record over the last four years | 46-20-11 | is impressive, and when you remember that they have had four coaches in those four years, those accomplishments just seem to take on a little more meaning. LeSage has been a huge factor in that run as a four-year starter and has made himself into one of the Cape Ann League's top defenseman.

The latest first year coach | Kevin Dodier | walked into the Triton gig practically blindfolded but knew he had two things to build with:

1. A veteran four-year goalie in Justin Joslin.

2. A stud four-year defenseman to back up his netminder in LeSage.

"(Chris) just has it every night," Dodier said of the player he believes to be a top-five defenseman in the league. "He's a captain, a leader, and just always gets his job done ever night. It's always great to have a guy like that on your team. He can match up with any team in the corners winning the little battles, and lately he has really seen the whole ice incredibly well."

A plus-minus ratio is important in hockey for virtually any player. The stat marks the scoring differential of goals scored and goals allowed when a particular player is on the ice. LeSage's plus 10 ratio is truly remarkable considering he plays almost 30 minutes a night.

"Chris is the type of kid that if we needed him to be on the ice 45 minutes a night, he could do it, and typically he is out there for 30 minutes or more," Dodier said. "For guys like the Bruins Zdeno Chara or Chris, that means they are going to be out there on the ice when some goals are scored against us. But his plus 9 to plus 10 ratio is right where we need it to be for our team to be successful."

In addition to his defensive responsibilities, LeSage has been a tremendous point producer for the Vikings with a goal and eight assists | ranking tops amongst River Rivals defensemen with nine points.

"At the beginning of the season, Chris and I sat down and I told him that while goals are great, assists are what make good defensemen special," Dodier said. "On top of the great outlet passes he has made out of our defensive zone and the way he has been able to create odd man rushes for our forwards by holding onto the puck in the neutral zone, Chris has one of the best low, hard, accurate wrist shots around. A lot of high school defensemen would take a more wild slap shot from the point, but Chris has the ability to be pin-point with his shots through traffic on goal, which has set up a lot of rebound opportunities for our team."

And the man who knows the most about LeSage's abilities from an opposing team's perspective | having scouted and coached against him for four years | Newburyport coach Paul Yameen said the top-flight defenseman can easily take over a game. "He is a very good skater with excellent skills that brings a physical presence to the rink you have to account for at all times," praised Yameen. "He is well-rounded, but the thing that makes him unique is the fact that he plays well in all three zones, especially the neutral zone where there is a lot of action. You rarely see that at the high school level.

"Over the last four years that I have seen Chris, I have really only known him solely from an athletic standpoint, but he has been a true joy to watch play," Yameen continued. "He brings out the best in my players and I wouldn't mind seeing him next year just for that reason."

According to LeSage, the end of the Vikings' season may not be the conclusion to the storied defenseman's career. Hockey at the next level is in the works.

"St. Anselm's has been taking a slight interest in me, and with hockey being my favorite sport, that school is probably my top choice at the moment," declared LeSage, who added he is waiting to hear from Springfield College (MA) and Northeastern University where lacrosse could be a possibility. "Right now, though, my thoughts are focused on trying to help lead this team to the state tournament."