Ormstown resident in French football Hall of Fame

Sylvain Leblanc of Ormstown has just received the ultimate tribute for his contribution to the development of football in France.

A pioneer in the sport of football in the Valleyfield region, the former player and coach has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Aix-en-Provence Argonauts of the National League in France. In his only season as a footballer in Europe, Leblanc shattered several records, notably scoring 36 touchdowns in six games.

« I was used in all positions, as a running back on offence and as a rover on defence, not to mention the special teams, » related the resident of Ormstown for the past 16 years. After having accomplished everything on the football field in 1989, Leblanc transmitted his expertise to his « cousins » as head coach of the Argonauts.

In addition to guiding the Aix-en-Provence crew to top honours in three consecutive seasons (1990, 1991 and 1992), he implemented a national structure by occupying the post of head coach of the French team. Under his reign, the players from France reached the Final Four semi-finals for the first time in the Cup of Champions, emblematic pf American football supremacy in Europe.

It is therefore as much for his work as a builder that Leblanc was elected to the Argonauts’ Hall of Fame. « You were selected in the ‘import player’ category, knowing that your activities as coach and for the development of players there also mean a lot, » wrote team spokesman Christophe Miraval in a letter addressed to the new member of the shrine.

« It’s a real honour to have been able to recognize you in this manner. Congratulations and thank you for having made the team what it is today. It’s thanks to people like you that we were able to experience this passion with the club that is dear to us, » rejoiced Argonauts president Thierry Jamet.

Leblanc, who is the principal of Baie-Saint-Francois secondary school, is counting on going to visit the Argonauts at Aix-en-Province next season, in order to receive his commemorative plaque. In the meantime, he will go about his business as head coach of the Bantam Cyclones at Edgar-Hebert School. The coach is making a return to the coaching lines where he will have the opportunity to coach his 11-year-old son Tristan Leblanc.

Locally, Sylvain has been one of the instigators of school football in the 1980s. He took the reins of the Valleyfield College Phalanges in 1993 and 1994 before joining he EBSF Broncos in 1995. Offensive coordinator of the juvenile team, Leblanc participated in three Bol d’Or titles (2000, 2002, 2006).

As a player he won two college championships with the Trois-Rivieres CEGEP Diablos and he then excelled as a defensive back in the Canadian university league with the Acadia Axemen in Nova Scotia.