Kristopher Letang

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Pittsburgh Penguins
league = NHL

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image_size = 160px
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11.5
weight_lb = 201
nickname =
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1987|4|24|mf=y
birth_place = Montreal, QC
draft = 62nd overall
draft_year = 2005
draft_team = Pittsburgh Penguins
career_start = 2006

Kristopher Letang (born April 24, 1987 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Letang played junior hockey for the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL for three seasons. After recording 32 points in his junior rookie season, he was named to the QMJHL and the CHL All-Rookie Team. That summer, he would be drafted in the 3rd round, 62nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next season, a 68-point effort in just 60 games would earn him QMJHL First Team All-Star honours.

Making the Penguins out of training camp, Letang would make his NHL debut in the 2006-07 season. He scored his first NHL goal in his third game, against Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders. However, Letang was returned to Val-d'Or after seven games and two goals for further development. Playing in his third season with Val-d'Or, Letang led the Foreurs to the 2007 QMJHL Finals with 31 points in the post-season, only to be swept by Lewiston in four games. Upon the Foreurs' elimination, he then appeared in one game for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League in the Calder Cup playoffs, recording an assist. At the season's end, he was awarded three major QMJHL awards. In addition to receiving the Emile Bouchard Trophy, as the best defenceman, and the Paul Dumont Trophy, as the best personality, Letang also received the Kevin Lowe Trophy, as the best defensive defenceman, indicative of Letang's abilities on both ends of the ice.

After beginning the 2007–08 season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Letang was quickly recalled by Pittsburgh, after recording 7 points in 10 games in the minors. Letang excelled in his rookie season with Pittsburgh, and was invited to the 2008 YoungStars Game during All-Star weekend. He completed the season with 17 points in 63 games, sixth among rookie defencemen.

Letang lost one of his closest friends, Luc Bourdon, who was a defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks. He had been planning on buying a motorcycle but had decided against it, just before the death of Bourdon.

Career statistics

International play

Letang debuted internationally for Team Canada in his rookie junior season during the 2005 World U18 Championships. Letang would score 4 points in 6 games, in a silver medal effort.

The next two years, Letang would compete in the World Junior Championships, earning gold in 2006 and 2007, as part of a current four-year Canadian championship run. Scoring 6 points in 6 games for Canada in 2007, Letang was named to the tournament All-Star Team, along with national teammates Carey Price and Jonathan Toews.

International statistics

ee also

*2006 Canadian World Junior Hockey Team

External links

*
* [http://hockeysfuture.com/prospect/kristopher_letang Hockey's Future Bio]