Junior Season (2016-17): Received the Gary Crosby Memorial Award as the team's leading scorer … Appeared in 44-of-45 games … Had 27 points on 11 goals and 16 assists, finishing tied for 13th overall in the WCHA … Recorded 12 points in the last 11 games and went on a seven-game point streak from November 4-25 (5G, 3A) … Scored the game-winning goal at Michigan State (Nov. 5) and had an assist on the game-winning goal vs. Northern Michigan (Oct. 28), at Bowling Green (Dec. 10), and vs. Minnesota State (Mar. 12) in the WCHA Semifinals … Had three multiple point games … Scored twice vs. Lake Superior State (Nov. 12) … Had two goals and an assist in the WCHA series clinching game against LSSU (Mar. 4) …Recorded a pair of assists in Game 1 of the playoff series vs. LSSU (Mar. 3) … Scored Tech’s first goal in the WCHA Championship Game vs. BGSU (Mar. 18).
Sophomore Season (2015-16): Skated in 35 games … Tied for third on the team with 26 points … Second on the team with 16 goals … Fourth on the team with a +16 rating … Scored four power play goals and four game-winning goals … Scored two goals at Lake Superior State (Dec. 12), vs. Alaska (Feb. 26), and vs. UAF (March 11) … Scored a goal and added three assists at Bemidji State (Feb. 20) … Had a goal and an assist at Bowling Green (Jan. 29), at Michigan State (Nov. 21), and vs. Northern Michigan (Oct. 24) … Attended the Anaheim Ducks Development Camp at the end of June.
Freshman Season (2014-15): Finished second among Michigan Tech freshmen in goals (7) and points (17) in 29 games … Collected his first career goal – the eventual game-winner – Dec. 29 in a 4-2 win against Ferris State at the Great Lakes Invitational … Notched four multi-point games, including three-point efforts on three occasions.
Prior to Michigan Tech: Spent the first half of 2013-14 with the Tri-City Storm (USHL), compiling 21-13=34 in 35 games before joining the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers … Had 6-8=14 in 25 games in Sioux City in the regular season … Helped Sioux City advance to the USHL Western Conference Finals … Posted 10-9=19 in 49 games for Tri-City during the 2012-13 season.
Personal: Shoots right … Son of Ron and Julie L'Esperance of Brighton, Michigan … Born Joel David L'Esperance in Brighton, Michigan, on August 18, 1995 … Has nine siblings—seven sisters and two brothers … Older brother, Alan, lettered in hockey at Michigan Tech in 2010-11 … Older sister, Carla, played basketball at Northern Michigan … Enjoys golfing and fishing … Majoring in management information systems.
