Cy LeClerc has spent every day of the last two seasons living out his wildest childhood dreams.
Reaching the Division 1 level anywhere would have been special enough, but LeClerc — who hails from Brentwood, N.H., which is less than a half-hour’s drive from the Whittemore Center in Durham — always has wanted to be where he is right now. He always wanted to be a New Hampshire Wildcat.
At just 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, though, he admits there was a time when reaching this level might not have been in play.
“I was the short kid growing up. So, to be honest, I never thought I’d make it anywhere big,” LeClerc said, reflecting on his hockey upbringing including a season at Exeter High School, two with both the Seacoast Spartans and Islanders HC organizations, and another in the NAHL with the Janesville (Wis.) Jets before beginning his college career.
“Once UNH offered me, it was a no-brainer. … It’s hard to put into words how special it is (to wear this sweater) and be that guy that hopefully kids will look up to. It’s been awesome.”
Ultimately, Cy LeClerc was destined to be a Wildcat and continue representing the Granite State at the highest level of college hockey.
He has the family lineage of two New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Famers. His granduncle, Roger A. LeClerc, is a former UNH player and the namesake of the team’s MVP award. His grandfather, Rene Cy LeClerc, was inducted for his long coaching career.
Wildcat hockey has been in his blood forever.
“I watched so many hockey games at ‘The Whit’ (as a kid),” said LeClerc, who looked up to smaller, skilled Wildcats of the past like Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) and current Ottawa Senators prospect Angus Crookshank. “It’s an amazing place to play. … When I was a kid, every game was packed. Being a local kid and seeing the fans come back like they have (this season) is an awesome experience.”
Sixth-year head coach Mike Souza (Wakefield, Mass.) is sure glad that LeClerc’s dreams turned into a reality after he scored a team-leading 13 goals as a freshman in 2022-23.
This past season, LeClerc formed great chemistry centering a line with Ryan Conmy and junior Liam Devlin (Needham, Mass.), giving the team a true top unit that stood up against the best in college hockey.
“It gives us a first line, right? They’re comfortable with each other and can play with pace,” Souza said in January. “Cy can really shoot it, too. He’s not a traditional center who slows down and makes plays. … And sometimes when guys are offensive, they don’t get enough credit for being competitive. They both want the puck, and Liam adds another dimension with his speed and puck protection ability.”
The trio helped the Wildcats get off to their best start since 2012-13, matching their win total from the previous season (11) in just their first 17 games. Despite missing the national tournament, Souza's group finished at No. 18 in PairWise with a 20-15-1 record.
Both on and off the ice, LeClerc noticed a new dynamic to this year’s team even before the first puck dropped in October.
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“I think we’re just a bit more of a (close-knit) team than last year,” LeClerc said in January. “We’ve got a good chemistry (off the ice) and I feel that’s helped us on the ice. … We have a good amount of skill and guys who can shoot the puck and score. It’s been a good mix.”
The emergence of a skill player and NHL draft pick like Conmy on LeClerc’s line was a key component in developing that depth. He felt that chemistry came naturally in the summer and only continued to grow throughout the season.
Having that chemistry established “helps tremendously,” LeClerc said. “(Conmy) has good skill and an unbelievable shot, so it’s been easy playing with him. … We know where each other are on the ice at all times. That’s helped make the game easier for both of us and the team, I’d say.”
With a more talented and deeper roster surrounding LeClerc, his impact was felt in other ways besides offense during his sophomore season.
LeClerc ended up setting a career-high 28 points. That mark ranked second behind Conmy, who had 31. Along with that, he was a fixture on the top power-play unit, as well as handling penalty-killing responsibilities.
While his offensive ability has always been apparent, it’s the work and room for continued growth in other areas of the game that excites Souza.
“The more versatile you are and the more situations you can put yourself in, the more opportunities you’re going to have. He’s a versatile player,” Souza said. “He’s a smart, cerebral player who’s a good penalty killer. He’s actually outstanding on face-offs, and then naturally, the offensive ability continues to evolve.”
Players often talk about the importance of growing a 200-foot game, but LeClerc feels that work away from the puck has made a difference and led to results this season.
“I’m on the PK and 5-on-3, so I feel like my defensive game has grown a lot,” he said. “I have a much better stick than last year, which has helped my growth. … I didn’t play any PK in juniors (before arriving at UNH), but I think (the coaches) saw my stick and thought I knew the game well enough to play there.”
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From his “local boy makes good" background to his development as a complete player at the top of the line chart, there’s a lot to like about LeClerc — who Souza said is nicknamed “The Mayor” by teammates because of his ties to the program, the Seacoast area and his strong impact on the campus community.
“The connectivity to the program for such a long time makes his story extra special,” Souza said. “I challenge all the players to be UNH historians while they’re here and recognize all the greats that came before. Cy embraces all of that.
“The beauty is that I think we’re still in the early stages of Cy’s story here. I’m eager to see each chapter filled with, hopefully, more goals, assists and wins for the ’Cats.”
