LeGrandeur making an impact with Terriers

Yorkton Terriers GM/head coach Mat Hehr knew had a good player joining his team.

He just realize how good.

Brett LeGrandeur piled up 21 goals and 47 points in 35 games with the HJHL's Airdrie Thunder in 2018-19.

"He was someone I had my eye on when he played with Airdrie's midget AAA team," Hehr says. "And then, one of his good friends he played with in Airdrie (Terriers winger) Ryan Ries mentioned I should watch him.

"I was able to watch some of his games when he went to provincials (with the Thunder)."

LeGrandeur joined the Terriers in the fall and immediately worked his way onto the club's second line.

"Due to his numbers, I was hoping he'd be a top-nine guy," Hehr says. "I wouldn't say that I expected him to come in and be in our top six. But with his work ethic, he just plays the game the right way and he's very responsible defensively.

"That's something I saw when he was playing with the Thunder as well. He's great on the penalty kill.

"He's been a great addition. He's a great 200-foot player, and that's what we've been looking for. He came in and worked himself into our top-six forward group, so he's been a welcomed addition on and off the ice."

Legrandeur has three goals and 23 points through 39 games, good for fourth on the Terriers.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder is happy with his first-ohalf performance but is eager to find the net with more regularity.

"I've gotta put the puck in the net a little bit more but it'll come," LeGrandeur says. "It was my first time away from home so, at the start, it was a little tough. Once I got more comfortable with all the boys and everything, it's been good.

"When I started, I wanted to make an impact and I thought I could make an impact. I wanted to finish with around 40 points or so.

"So far, I'm happy."

The Terriers stumbled out of the gates with a 1-6-0 record but then turned things around.

They went into the Christmas break at 23-15-1, good for top spot in the Viterra Division.

LeGrandeur has kept an eye on his former team. The Thunder head into the second half of the season sitting atop the HJHL's North Division standings at 21-4-1.

"I know a lot of the players, and I've known the owners and coaches for a long time, so I keep tabs on them."

The 19-year-old says his time in the HJHL made his transition into the SJHL smooth.

"I think it helped my playing with the type of guys who are in the league," says LeGrandeur, who is looking into taking entry-level college courses during the second half of the season. "Especially last year, most of the guys on my team had all been in the Junior A leagues.

"So playing with them prepared for what it would be like out here."

Hehr says the HJHL has become a solid talent pipeline.

"I think Brett put up 47 points in the league so he had a very good year," Hehr says.

"I think a lot of coaches have overlooked that league because they think it's not as great for development because its mostly an older league.

"But when an 18-year-old can put up that kind of numbers, it's definitely a sign."