Francis Lessard


Francis Lessard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who most recently played for the Trois-Rivières Blizzard in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey. While he had stints in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers and Ottawa Senators, the majority of his career was spent in the American Hockey League. He was widely recognized for his role as an enforcer, known for his tough, physical play and for defending his teammates on the ice.

Playing career

As a young hockey player, Lessard showcased his developing talent on a prominent stage by participating in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee [Hockey Tournament]s in both 1992 and 1993. Representing the Rive-Nord Elites, a well-regarded minor ice hockey team, Lessard competed against top youth players from across North America and around the world.
Selected from the QMJHL's Val-d'Or Foreurs, Lessard had his rights traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1999 while still playing junior hockey. He went on to play three seasons with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers.
Lessard broke into the NHL with the Thrashers during the 2001–02 season, the same year he captured a Calder Cup title with the Chicago Wolves. Over four seasons, he appeared in 91 games for the Thrashers before joining the New York Rangers organization in 2006. He then spent two seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, before signing with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008 and playing two more AHL seasons with the San Antonio Rampage. In August 2010, Lessard signed with the Ottawa Senators.

Awards and honours

Transactions