Lewiston Maineiacs
| Lewiston MAINEiacs | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Lewiston, Maine |
| League | Quebec Major Junior Hockey League |
| Conference | Telus |
| Division | Central |
| Operated | 2003 to 2011 |
| Home arena | Androscoggin Bank Colisée |
| Colours | Black, blue and orange |
| Franchise history | |
| 1969–73 | Trois-Rivières Ducs |
| 1973–92 | Trois-Rivières Draveurs |
| 1992–98 | Sherbrooke Faucons |
| 1998–2003 | Sherbrooke Castors |
| 2003–2011 | Lewiston Maineiacs |
The Lewiston Maineiacs were a junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based in Lewiston, Maine. The team played its home games at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée. They were the second QMJHL team in the United States, and the only one to play a full season. They won the President's Cup in 2007.
On Tuesday May 31, 2011, the QMJHL decided to fold the team following eight years of losing money.
Contents |
[edit] History
Their franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season. They played in Trois-Rivières, Quebec from 1969 to 1992. They were known as the Ducs from 1969–1973, and as the Draveurs (1973–1992). They moved to Sherbrooke, Quebec in 1992 to become the Faucons (1992–1998) and the Castors (1998–2003). The Castors moved to Lewiston, Maine in 2003.
The Maineiacs clinched the Jean Rougeau Trophy for first overall in the regular season for 2006–07. During the same season, Lewiston increased its annual attendance totals to 94,903 tickets sold. [1] In the playoffs that year, Lewiston went 16-1 to cruise to their first President's Cup.
[edit] 2007 Memorial Cup
After winning the 2007 President's Cup, the Maineiacs won eligibility to play in the 2007 Memorial Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia. Following an opening win over the Medicine Hat Tigers, the Maineiacs suffered the huge loss with the injury of their captain, Marc-André Cliche, and never really found their scoring touch. They crashed out of the tournament in fourth place after losing consecutive games to the Vancouver Giants, Plymouth Whalers, and the Whalers again in the tie-breaker, scoring only three goals in three games in the process.
- Scores
- Saturday, May 19: Lewiston 3, Medicine Hat Tigers 1
- Sunday, May 20: Vancouver Giants 2, Lewiston 1
- Tuesday, May 22: Plymouth Whalers 2, Lewiston 1 (OT)
- Thursday, May 24: Plymouth Whalers 5, Lewiston 1
[edit] Sale and aborted relocation
On January 25, 2009, it was announced that the Maineiacs were negotiating with the city of Boisbriand, Quebec (a suburb of Montreal) in hopes of relocating the franchise for the 2009–10 season.[1] Under the plan, Mark Just would remain majority owner with 51% of the shares, with former NHL defenseman Joel Bouchard owning the rest. On January 31, the team announced that they had filed their intent to relocate, and had submitted papers to do so to the QMJHL.
In a Jan. 31 media release announcing the move of the Maineiacs franchise, owner Mark Just said that community support for the team was a major consideration. During the six seasons since the team moved from Sherbrooke, Quebec to Lewiston, the Maineiacs never managed to break even. However, on February 2, Farrel Miller, owner of the QMJHL's Montreal Junior Hockey Club, issued a statement that his team would fight the Maineiacs move to Boisbriand on territorial grounds.
- The Montreal Junior Hockey Club has communicated to the QMJHL that it will retain, without modification, its exclusive geographic territory that it acquired in connection with its 2008 Franchise Agreement with the QMJHL. On January 21st, 2009, the Montreal Junior Hockey Club communicated to the Governors of the QMJHL that (i) it has chosen to retain its exclusive territory without modification and (ii) that it is not seeking any financial compensation in connection with this issue.
After several weeks of negotiations with a number of Canadian cities (most notably Fredericton, New Brunswick[2]), Maineiacs Head Coach Don Macadam announced on March 24, 2009 that the Maineiacs would be remaining in Lewiston. In June 2010, Lewiston businessman Paul Spellman became minority owner of the team, and in early August, 2010, former Moncton Wildcats GM (and Summerside, PEI native) Bill Schurman was named as the team's Sports Management Consultant. However, relocation rumors continued to follow the team, with Summerside, Prince Edward Island (where Schurman had recently been the city's Director of Community Services) and St. John's, Newfoundland named as a potential destinations in January, 2011.
The team's attempted relocation to Summerside had a negative effect on attendance. However, the move fell through as a preliminary exploration to gauge support for a move to Summerside found little traction, and the team began to look at other possibilities.
The franchise did not play during the 2011-12 QMJHL season, but is scheduled to relocate back to Sherbrooke for the 2012-13 as the Sherbrooke Phoenix. In their final season, future State Senator Garrett Mason was hired to be the Director of Administration for the Maineiacs.
[edit] Takeover by League and Disbanding
On May 31, 2011, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League held a conference call to prepare an offer to purchase the team from Mark Just for 3.5 million dollars. Under the league's plan, the Maineiacs would then be disbanded, with players being selected by other clubs in a dispersal draft. Late on May 31, the league issued a press release confirming the sale of the MAINEiacs to the league, and the subsequent disbanding / dispersal draft occurred the following week. While Androscoggin Bank Colisee owners have stated that they are searching for a replacement team from outside of the QMJHL to take the Maineiacs place, they have as yet been unable to do so.[3]
[edit] Coaches
- Mario Durocher: 2003–04
- Clement Jodoin: 2004–2007
- Ed Harding: 2007–January 12, 2009
- Don MacAdam: January 13, 2009–December 10, 2009 [2]
- Jeff Guay: Interim: December 10, 2009-December 27, 2009 (then moved to assistant coach).
- Jean-Francois Houle: December 27, 2009-May 31, 2011
[edit] Players
[edit] QMJHL award winners
- Mike Bossy Trophy—best pro prospect: Alexandre Picard, 2004
- Paul Dumont Trophy—personality of the year: Clement Jodoin, 2006
- Ron Lapointe Trophy—Coach of the Year: Clement Jodoin, 2007
- Guy Carbonneau Trophy—Best Defensive forward: Marc-Andre Cliche, 2007.
- Guy Lafleur Trophy—QMJHL Playoffs Most Valuable Player: Jonathan Bernier, 2007
[edit] All-stars
- Jonathan Paiement: 1st team (Defense) 2003–04
- Alexandre Picard: 1st team (Right wing) 2003–04,
- Alex Bourret: 2nd team (Right wing) 2004–05
- Jonathan Bernier: 2nd team (Goaltender) 2006–07
- Peter Delmas: All-rookie team (Goaltender) 2006–07
- Stefano Giliati: 2nd Team (Left Wing) 2007–08
- Kevin Marshall: 2nd Team (Defense) 2007–08
[edit] Captains
- 2003–04: Francis Trudel
- 2004–05: No captain
- 2005– January, 2006: Brandon Roach
- January, 2006–May 2007: Marc-Andre Cliche
- September, 2007–March, 2008: Marc-Andre Daneau
- September, 2008–June, 2009: Danick Paquette
- September, 2009–May 2010: Billy Lacasse
- September, 2010–2011: Cameron Critchlow
[edit] NHL alumni
Six Maineiacs to date have played in the NHL:
[edit] NHL draftees
In addition, the Maineiacs have had several players drafted by National Hockey League teams. They are:
- 2004 NHL Draft
- Alexandre Picard (2004 1st Round, #8 overall by Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Jonathan Paiement (2004 8th Round, #247 overall by New York Rangers)
- 2005 NHL Draft
- Alex Bourret (2005 1st Round, #16 overall by Atlanta Thrashers)
- Chad Denny (2005 2nd Round, #49 overall by Atlanta Thrashers)
- Marc-Andre Cliche (2005 2nd Round, #56 overall by New York Rangers)
- Olivier Legault (2005 4th Round, #93 overall by Florida Panthers)
- Mathieu Aubin (2005 5th Round, #130 overall by Montreal Canadiens)
- 2006 NHL Draft
- Jonathan Bernier (2006 1st Round, #11 overall by Los Angeles Kings)
- Stefan Chaput (2006 5th Round, #153 overall, by Carolina Hurricanes)
- 2007 NHL Draft
- David Perron (2007 1st Round, #26 overall by St. Louis Blues)
- Kevin Marshall (2007 2nd Round #41 overall by Philadelphia Flyers)
- Michael Ward (2007 7th Round #197 overall by Tampa Bay Lightning)
- 2008 NHL Draft
- Peter Delmas (2008 2nd Round, #61 overall by Colorado Avalanche)
- Danick Paquette (2008 3rd Round #64 overall by Atlanta Thrashers)
- 2009 NHL Draft
- Eric Gelinas (2009 2nd Round, #54 overall by New Jersey Devils
- 2010 NHL Draft
- Michael Chaput (2010 3rd Round, #89 overall by Philadelphia Flyers
- Samuel Carrier (2010 6th Round, #176 overall by Washington Capitals
[edit] Yearly results
[edit] Regular season
Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SL | Points | Pct % | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 70 | 33 | 31 | 5 | 1 | - | 72 | 0.507 | 233 | 215 | 3rd East |
| 2004–05 | 70 | 32 | 30 | 8 | 0 | - | 72 | 0.514 | 214 | 209 | 4th East |
| 2005–06 | 70 | 36 | 23 | - | 3 | 8 | 83 | 0.581 | 240 | 207 | 4th East |
| 2006–07 | 70 | 50 | 14 | - | 2 | 4 | 106 | 0.714 | 282 | 196 | 1st East |
| 2007–08 | 70 | 37 | 26 | - | 0 | 5 | 81 | 0.579 | 222 | 212 | 5th East |
| 2008–09 | 68 | 22 | 43 | - | 1 | 2 | 47 | 0.324 | 190 | 286 | 4th Central |
| 2009-10 | 68 | 26 | 42 | - | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0.382 | 212 | 298 | 4th Central |
[edit] Playoffs
- 2003–04 - Lost to Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 games to 3 in first round.
- 2004–05 - Defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 0 in first round.
Lost to Rimouski Océanic 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals. - 2005–06 - Lost to Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 2 in conference quarterfinals.
- 2006–07 - Defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 0 in conference first roundfinals.
Defeated Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 1 in conference quarterfinals.
Defeated Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 games to 0 in league semifinals.
Defeated Val-d'Or Foreurs 4 games to 0 in QMJHL finals. QMJHL CHAMPIONS
Finished Memorial Cup round-robin tied for third.
Lost to Plymouth Whalers 5-1 in the tiebreaker game. - 2007–08 - Lost to Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 4 games to 2 in conference quarterfinals.
- 2008–09 - Lost to Drummondville Voltigeurs 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
- 2009–10 - Lost to Drummondville Voltigeurs 4 games to 0 in conference quarterfinals.
- 2010–11 - Defeated Moncton Wildcats 4 games to 1 in Round of 16.
-Defeated Montreal Junior 4 games to 2 in league quarterfinals.
-Lost to Saint John Sea Dogs 4 games to 0 in league semifinals.
[edit] Team records
| Team records for a single season | ||
| Statistic | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most points | 106 | 2006–07 |
| Most wins | 50 | 2006–07 |
| Most goals for | 282 | 2006–07 |
| Least goals for | 190 | 2008–09 |
| Least goals against | 196 | 2006–07 |
| Most goals against | 298 | 2009–10 |
| Individual player records for a single season | |||
| Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most goals | Etienne Brodeur | 53 | 2010-11 |
| Most assists | Mathieu Aubin | 56 | 2005–06 |
| Most points | Mathieu Aubin | 103 | 2005–06 |
| Most points, rookie | David Perron | 83 | 2006–07 |
| Most points, defenseman | Jonathan Paiement and Chad Denny | 65 | 2003–04; 2006–07 |
| Best GAA (goalie) | Jonathan Bernier | 2.58 | 2006–07 |
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played | |||
| Individual player records—career | |||||||
| Statistic | Player | Total | Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most goals | Stefano Giliati and Mathieu Aubin | 85 | |||||
| Most assists | Jonathan Paiement | 136 | 2004–06 | ||||
| Most points | Stefano Giliati | 193 | 2006–08 | ||||
| Most penalty minutes | Danick Paquette | 555 | 2006–2009 | ||||
| Most games played | Marc-Andre Daneau | 265 | 2005–08 | ||||
[edit] References
- ^ Maineiacs likely to leave town, Sun Journal, January 25, 2009
- ^ MAINEiacs Study Move To Fredericton, WMTW, March 3, 2009
- ^ League Acquires MAINEiacs, Lewiston MAINEiacs press release, May 31, 2011
[edit] External links
- QMJHL Arena Guide profile
