Anna Lee LeBlanc is a serious runner.
Makes sense, considering just how many miles she puts on each day.
LeBlanc continues to race toward new challenges and the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association will be missing a major cog in its operational wheel when the 2025 season starts next spring.
The Riverview, NB, native spent last season as the vice commissioner of the seven-team MWBA. She also augmented her vice commissioner duties as director of brand and marketing. Her work on the social media side of things was a massive growth step for the league as LeBlanc also learned the ropes of helping run a league across two provinces.
She will say goodbye to her MWBA roles at the league’s AGM later in September.
LeBlanc accepted a position with Sudbury Wolves Sports&Entertainment (SWSE), a multi-faceted company that operates four teams and events in Greater Sudbury, ON. Its main target of operation is the major junior A Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
‘I was looking for a full-time position within the sports industry and wasn’t really filtering by positions or location,’ said LeBlanc. ‘I was open to anything. Sometimes in the sports industry, you don’t have the luxury of making your own choices. I applied for the position with SWSE, received an interview and was successful.’
LeBlanc was living in Ontario already after finishing her degree at Western University in London.
Her first trip to Sudbury was to find an apartment and get to work as an account executive in group sales and suite rentals.
‘I had never been to Sudbury in my life and now I’ve moved in full-time,’ she said. ‘I took a leap of faith and here I am.’
LeBlanc began her MWBA affiliation as social media director for the Fredericton Freeze in 2022. She was a student at the University of New Brunswick at the time. She would leave UNB with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology before earning her Masters of Arts in Management and Leadership in Kinesiology (Sports Management) at Western.
She stepped away in 2023 from official MWBA duties, but re-engaged last year, tackling the two roles and bringing enthusiasm, knowledge and creativity to the league.
LeBlanc worked hand-in-hand with MWBA commissioner Jen McKenzie, treasurer Jeff White and secretary Lori Wall to ensure the league made its way through another season of success on and off the court.
‘My involvement with the MWBA was incredible and I will greatly miss the organization,’ she said. ‘I learned that I am capable of so much more than I realize sometimes. Being a trusted leader in sport can be difficult when you’re younger, but this showed me that I can do unconventional things. I learned I can be a vice-president and director of brand and marketing because I have the proper skills and passion.’
LeBlanc also played a critical role as liaison with Sports&Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A) – the MWBA’s official marketing and community partner based in Halifax – along with communicating with the league’s founding partners Medavie and Royale and other key sponsors involved with the league.
‘Being able to work very closely with all league partners as well as franchises was very educational and allowed me to meet many different people,’ she said. ‘As well, being able to work with like-minded people who maintain the same mission and vision as the league is very rewarding. Seeing my capacity from the first season to the third season is remarkable. I was able to quantity my growth through graphic design, people management, and my ability to manage stress.’
LeBlanc, who interned with the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2023 and interned this past summer with the Canadian Olympic Committee, is a fast-learner and high energy personality.
A member of UNB’s cross country team during her days as a Reds’ student-athlete, LeBlanc grew up a multi-sport athlete.
She was involved in basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, cross country and more.
‘My parents always wanted me to try different sports to instill the idea you don’t have to be a professional athlete to be active,’ she said. ‘I discovered my passion for the sports managements industry during my third year at UNB. I was involved in so many extracurricular activities, I realized the science stream of kinesiology was not my passion. Because I love positively impacting my community and advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion, the sports management industry is my ultimate passion. The impact that sport can have in an individuals’ lives is sometimes unquantifiable. This is what I love about sport.’
LeBlanc is certainly learning as she goes in Sudbury.
There are the Wolves and three other sporting businesses under the ownership umbrella.
She’s a quick learner.
‘I’ve been able to learn and adapt through experience within my first few weeks,’ she said. ‘Although I don’t have direct sales experience, I have developed people skills, professional communication best-practices, and how to be proactive and organized through my other school and sport experiences. This has allowed me to expand my skills and network event further, so I can eventually jump back into a marketing role in the future.’
The Wolves certainly play a huge role in Sudbury, a city of some 165,000.
Hockey is a passion and the Wolves have been a winter mainstay for decades.
‘The Wolves are very community oriented and that’s something I noticed immediately,’ she said. ‘I was given the opportunity to talk with many season ticket holders. One man I talked to has been a Wolves season ticket holder for almost 25 years. He’s had a season ticket for longer than I’ve be alive. I believe the impact our organization can make in the community also makes us a family and community orientated organization.’
LeBlanc will say her goodbyes to all the MWBA personalities she came to know over a busy 16-month period.
Communication played a key role in her success and the pursuit of finding LeBlanc’s replacement will begin early fall.
She will continue to run on a regular basis – six and eight-kilometre distances were her speciality – along with experimenting with new recipes and reading.
LeBlanc will have a twinge of melancholy when the MWBA meets for its AGM, but she is leaving the league in a better place.
‘The MWBA was my second home and I almost grew up with the league from its inception until I was able to be a key leader its third season,’ she said. ‘I’ve watched it grow and flourish, but I’ve also seen the work and dedication it takes from similar individuals to produce a quality product. The league has also allowed me to learn through trial and error which sometimes can’t be found in similar sport positions. Having people around me that trusted me with the branding and the voice of the league is an aspect I’ll never stop talking about. I think you can see the organization’s passion in the branding and voice of the league – or at least we hope so.’
LeBlanc enjoyed the inclusiveness the MWBA has brought to the board as int continues to grow and mature.
‘The MWBA is inclusive and always supportive of those involved with the league. If you have the opportunity to be involved with the league, everyone involved will always be rooting for you,’ she said. ‘I was talking to one of our MWBA athlete alumni, saying that even though she is no longer currently an athlete in the league, we will always be cheering her on in all her endeavours. That’s the type of organization we are. That’s what we stand for. I don’t think you can ask for anything better than that.’