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Proud Past Moment: 2007 Memorial Cup

May 23, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) - Lewiston MAINEiacs News Release


With the 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup currently in progress, now is a perfect time to look back at the Lewiston MAINEiacs' Memorial Cup appearance in 2007.

The MAINEiacs reached the 2007 Mastercard Memorial Cup after quite the run through the QMJHL regular season and playoffs. Lewiston posted a 50-14-2-4 record in the regular season, before winning 16 of 17 playoff games against Shawinigan, Halifax, Rouyn-Noranda, and Val-d'Or, as they became the first United States based team to capture the President's Cup.

After ten days off, which included a journey from Lewiston, ME to Vancouver, BC, the MAINEiacs were ready to begin play at the Mastercard Memorial Cup. The tournament opener featured a 4-3 overtime win by the host Vancouver Giants against the Plymouth Whalers, setting the stage for the Lewiston MAINEiacs and Medicine Hat Tigers on day two.

Current Detroit Red Wing Darren Helm opened the scoring for the Tigers at the 11:40 mark of the first period, but that was the only celebration of the day for the WHL champions. Eric Castonguay scored the first Memorial Cup goal in franchise history, drawing assists from Chris Tutalo and Simon Courcelles at 1:40 of the second period for the equalizer. A little less than eleven minutes later, the MAINEiacs took their first lead, as Sebastien Piche lit the lamp from Stefan Chaput and Stefano Giliati. Early in the third period, Lewiston added some insurance, as Chaput found the twine for his first Memorial Cup goal, assisted by Giliati and Jonathan Bernier. Following his outstanding performance in the QMJHL playoffs, Bernier was spectacular, denying 30 of the 31 shots he faced, as the MAINEiacs secured a 3-1 victory in their debut in Vancouver.

One day later, Lewiston took the ice again, facing the host Vancouver Giants. This time, it was the MAINEiacs who got out to the strong start, as David Perron silenced the home crowd on a goal assisted by Pierre-Luc Faubert at the 5:48 mark of the opening stanza. The score stayed 1-0 until the third period, when Kenndal McArdle drew the Giants even. Then, with 4:13 left in regulation, Wacey Rabbit netted the eventual game winning goal, with current Boston Bruin Milan Lucic factoring in with an assist. Jonathan Bernier did all he could in goal for Lewiston, making 31 saves in the 2-1 setback.

After watching Medicine Hat defeat Plymouth on day four, the MAINEiacs got their chance to face the Whalers on day five, as two American teams took the ice at Pacific Coliseum. The first goal was difficult to come by, as Simon Courcelles put Lewiston ahead with 5:53 remaining in regulation on a goal assisted by David Perron. Unfortunately, the Whalers had an answer, as Evan Brophey tied the score with a shorthanded goal with 1:12 left in regulation, forcing overtime. At the 4:19 mark of the extra session, Andrew Fournier scored the winner for Plymouth, setting up a tiebreaking game two nights later. Jonathan Bernier was sharp once again, turning aside 37 of the 39 shots he faced.

The tiebreaker wasn't exactly the contest that Lewiston had envisioned, as Plymouth came out with a much different attack than they did in the round robin finale. The Whalers scored twice in the first, once in the second, and twice in the third, eliminating the MAINEiacs with a 5-1 defeat. Simon Courcelles was the lone Lewiston player to solve current Washington Capital Michal Neuvirth, scoring at the 51 second mark of the third period, with Pierre-Luc Faubert and David Perron drawing the assists.

While they were unable to take home the CHL's grand prize, the 2006-07 Lewiston MAINEiacs represented the QMJHL well at the 2007 Mastercard Memorial Cup, defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers, while also giving the Vancouver Giants and Plymouth Whalers everything they could handle. Prior to Friday night's win by the Saint John Sea Dogs, this Lewiston squad was the last QMJHL representative to win a Memorial Cup game in a non-QMJHL city.

MAINEiacs MADNESS 2011

FIRST ROUND

JAROSLAV HALAK BRACKET

Match 1

Etienne Brodeur scores at 8:49 of overtime to defeat Moncton 4-3 in game four of the first round of the playoffs

vs.

Etienne Brodeur scores with 5.2 seconds left in the third period to defeat Montreal 2-1 in game three of the second round of the playoffs

Match 2

Zach Evans-Renaud scores with 44 seconds left in overtime on Lewiston's 51st shot of the game, as the MAINEiacs win 2-1 at Cape Breton

vs.

Zach Shannon scores with nine seconds left in overtime, as Lewiston completed a five-point road trip with a 4-3 win at PEI

Match 3

Kirill Kabanov scores on his first shootout attempt as a MAINEiac, and Sam Carrier nets the winner in round five, as Lewiston edges Moncton 3-2 on Black Friday

vs.

Kirill Kabanov scores to start the shootout, and Matt Bissonnette scores the winner on his birthday with a spin-o-rama, as Lewiston comes back to win 4-3 in Victoriaville

Match 4

Etienne Brodeur scores at the 2:15 mark of overtime, lifting the MAINEiacs past Val-d'Or 5-4 in the road trip finale

vs.

Olivier Dame-Malka fakes a slap shot, before snapping home a wrist shot at 3:29 of overtime, giving the MAINEiacs a 2-1 win at Shawinigan

JONATHAN BERNIER BRACKET

Match 1

Andrey Makarov picks up his first career win and shutout, making 22 saves in an 8-0 win at Rouyn-Noranda

vs.

Andrey Makarov makes 37 saves, going perfect on 28 attempts in the final two periods, as Lewiston doubles up Shawinigan 4-2 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

Match 2

Nicholas Champion makes 34 saves, including 14 in the third period, as Lewiston holds off Quebec 4-3 at Colisee Pepsi

vs.

Nicholas Champion makes 44 saves, including 33 in the final two periods, as Lewiston ends Saint John's ten-game winning streak with a 5-2 triumph at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

Match 3

Antoine Bibeau wins his first career start in the QMJHL, making 26 saves in a 3-2 win over Baie-Comeau

vs.

Andrey Makarov stops Steven Anthony's penalty shot early in the third period of game four of the playoff series against Saint John, preserving a 4-4 tie

Match 4

The MAINEiacs start 2011 with a bang, drubbing Drummondville 7-0 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

vs.

The MAINEiacs set a season-high, scoring nine goals on 26 shots (34.6%), taking care of Halifax, 9-3

CHAD DENNY BRACKET

Match 1

Lewiston scores three goals in a span of 4:06 seconds in the third period, erasing a 3-2 deficit for a 5-4 win at Drummondville - their first win at Centre Marcel Dionne since the 2007-08 season

vs.

Lewiston scores three goals in the third period, erasing a 4-2 deficit for a 5-4 win at Shawinigan - their first ever regulation win at Centre Bionest

Match 2

Lewiston falls behind 4-1, but scores one goal in the second period and three in the third, coming back to beat Rimouski 5-4 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

vs.

Lewiston falls behind 2-0, but comes back to score the next five goals of the game, defeating Chicoutimi 5-2 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

Match 3

Cameron Critchlow breaks a 3-3 tie with 5:54 left in regulation, as the MAINEiacs kick off MOvember with a 4-3 win over Quebec

vs.

Zach Evans-Renaud ties the score with 48 seconds left in regulation, setting Etienne Brodeur up to be the overtime hero, as the MAINEiacs come back to beat Baie-Comeau 3-2

Match 4

Alex Zafiris answers Moncton's tying goal in a matter of 30 seconds, and Michael Chaput adds insurance in the third period, as Lewiston takes a 2-1 series lead with a 4-2 win in game three at Moncton

vs.

Kirill Kabanov breaks a 1-1 tie, scoring twice in the third period to give Lewiston a 3-1 lead in a game that they ultimately won 4-1, taking a 3-1 lead in the series against Montreal

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAINEiacs MADNESS 2011

- These are the first 12 match-ups in MAINEiacs Madness 2011.

- The other 12 match-ups in the first round will be revealed on June 6th.

- From now until June 5th, fans may vote on these 12 match-ups.

- Each individual e-mail address is allowed one vote per match.

- Voting may be done by sending an e-mail to maineiacspr@gmail.com, with the subject line, "MAINEiacs Madness Votes."

- Any questions may be directed to the e-mail address above.

- Enjoy the Madness!

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2011


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