12 juin 2018 – Times & Transcript

Aigles Bleus standout transfers to Gee-Gees

SEAN HATCHARD TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Jean-François Plante PHOTO: UDEM ATHLETICS Jean-François Plante, a standout forward with the Université de Aigles Bleus men’s hockey team the past four seasons, will wear a new uniform next season. Plante,who graduated with a kinesiology degree from UdeM last month, is transferring to the University of Ottawa Gee- Gees. He’ll play his fifth and final year of eligibility in the Ontario University Athletics conference. The 24-year-old native of Richmond, Que., who will study physiotherapy at Ottawa, registered 103 points (62 goals, 41 assists) in 115 regular-season games for the Aigles Bleus in the Atlantic University Sport conference. Plante’s best season came in the 2016-17 campaign when he led the country with 28 goals in 30 regular-season games. Playing on a stellar line with twins Alex and Allain Saulnier, Plante finished tied for seventh in hockey with 40 points. “He’s one of the players who had the most success in the history of the Aigles Bleus,”said UdeM director of hockey 12 juin 2018 – Times & Transcript operations Jean-François Damphousse. “He was a key player the last four years for the Aigles Bleus and we will always remember how he contributed to our program.” Plante completed his UdeM career with 13 goals and 20 points in 30 games as the club struggled to a 3-24-3 record and missed the AUS playoffs last season. “Even though we had a rough year last year, he was a key player for us,” said Damphousse. “He brought a lot of leadership and I’m sure the younger players on the roster really learned from him.” The Aigles Bleus were aware Plante would not be returning for a fifth season. Plante joins an Ottawa team that features former Dieppe Commandos forwards Mathieu Newcomb and Cody Drover and defenceman Michael Poirier and former blueliner Jacob Sweeney. Sackville forward Kyle Ward, who captained the to a Maritime Junior Hockey League championship this past season, is also joining the Gee-Gees. Meanwhile, other players not returning to the Aigles Bleus next season include goaltender Brandon Thibeau, defencemen Sébastien Gauthier,Samuel Roussy and Jean- Sebastien Fournier and forwards Samuel LeBlanc, Joël Blanchard and Mitchell Robillard.