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Former Montreal Canadiens prospect Louis Leblanc had a successful debut in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Slovan Bratislava, facing off against the Dinamo Minsk on Monday.

Leblanc, a Kirkland native, sported jersey No. 71. He had about 13 minutes of ice time, recorded two shots on net but was held scoreless in his inaugural KHL road game, which his new team won 4-3 in a shootout.

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The KHL is considered to be the top professional hockey league in Europe and Asia, and second in the world behind the National Hockey League.

Leblanc will play his first home game with Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia on Wednesday, Oct. 28, versus Lada Togliatti, a team that current Habs defenceman Alexei Emelin once suited up for early in his pro career.

This fall, the 24-year-old Leblanc, a forward who grew up playing minor hockey in the West Island, attended training camp with the New York Islanders but he failed to make the NHL cut. His contract was mutually terminated. He then signed a deal with Slovan Bratislava, whose roster includes fellow Canadian Cam Barker, a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Blackhawks who played more than 300 NHL games before heading to the KHL last season. Both goaltenders with Leblanc’s new team also hail from Canada. Each had short stints in the NHL several years ago.