Voodoos acquire former Trapper and Battalion draft pick
The Powassan brought back a familiar local player to their offensive group with the addition of forward Jesse Lefebvre.
The Voodoos acquired the 19-year-old product from Sturgeon Falls from the Renfrew Wolves of the Central Canadian Hockey League for a development fee.
“It’s great to be back around the Bay,” said Lefebvre, a 2022 draft pick of the North Bay Battalion.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound forward had nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 50 games in the CCHL last season.
In his rookie season of Junior 'A' hockey with the French River Rapids in 2023-24, Lefebvre had 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points in 56 games.
In his final year of U18 hockey, Lefebvre racked up 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points in 28 games with the U18 AAA Trappers, who won the Great North U18 title in 2022-23.
During that season with the U18 Trappers, Lefebvre played the majority of his time alongside current Voodoos players Justin Rousseau and Caleb Dawson.
“There’s a couple of guys here I used to play with, so I’m excited," said Lefebvre.
"We already have that connection so it will work right away.”
Lefebvre becomes the 6th member of that U18 Trappers championship team from 2022-23 to join the Voodoos for the upcoming season, joining Rousseau, Dawson, Cayden Kowal, Anthony Boyes and Heath Bradley.
"He will still have to blend well with guys that are here, but I like the way it is looking and super excited to have six guys off one team that came together and won a championship, that doesn't happen very often," said Peter Goulet, Powassan Voodoos head coach.
Aside from his offence, Lefebvre is also known as an agitator who proudly boasts he models his game after Stanley Cup winner Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers.
"I have always been a Marchand fan and I always will be," said Lefebvre.
Voodoos coach Goulet likes his combination of skill and grit.
"He's an energy guy, he plays with passion," said Goulet.
"He plays like Marchand, he is in people's faces, he's a little agitator but to go with that he has got a great skillset like Marchand does and he's a great player and a really good team guy and I am excited to have the opportunity to coach him."
Lefebvre will join his teammates for the start of Voodoos training camp, which starts with their annual Voodoos golf tournament at Highview Golf Course on August 20th.
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Photos:
Lefebvre at North Bay Battalion training camp in fall of 2023.
Lefebvre and reunited teammate Caleb Dawson all smiles during a game between the Rapids and Voodoos in 2023.
Lefebvre between Justin Rousseau and Caleb Dawson at the end of the 2023-24 NOJHL regular season.
Photos courtesy Voodooshockey.com
