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Game Day Road Report

December 3, 2010 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Lewiston MAINEiacs News Release


Hello everyone, and happy TGIF! Just think, in two days, the MAINEiacs will be back on home ice, ready to start a four-game homestand at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

However, first thing is first, and there is a big game tonight, as two of the top teams in the QMJHL will collide at Harbour Station, as Lewiston battles Saint John. A lot of the experts are saying that the Sea Dogs are the best team in the league right now, and judging by their record, it's hard to disagree. Saint John enters tonight's contest with a 22-3-0-2 record, which includes a 13-0-0-1 mark on home ice. Offense is by far the biggest strength for the Sea Dogs, who also lead the league with 135 goals.

Saint John has four NHL draft picks on their roster, while three other players could possibly get selected in the first round this coming summer. Ever since last year's playoffs, Jonathan Huberdeau has been a points machine, as he currently leads the team with 42 points in 27 games, as well as a plus-34 rating. Former MAINEiac Zack Phillips is second on the squad with 20 goals and 38 points, while Simon Despres leads the defensive group with 21 points in 17 games. Despres spent a significant amount of time with the Pittsburgh Penguins during training camp, as he was their first round selection from 2009.

All of those numbers make the Sea Dogs look unbeatable, but that is definitely not the case, as the Junior, Voltigeurs, Screaming Eagles, and Titan have proven thus far this season. Earlier today, I had a chance to chat with athletic therapist Brian Morrison, who saw his Halifax Mooseheads win at Harbour Station last season. He told me that one thing about Saint John is that they absolutely do not like getting hit. Granted, nobody likes getting hit to begin with, but he said that this team can be beaten if they are pushed around.

With that being said, Lewiston will have to be disciplined when being physical. Last night, the MAINEiacs were shorthanded nine times. Some of the penalties were warrented, others weren't, but at the end of the day, championship calibur teams don't spend that much time in the sin bin.

Speaking of last night's game, that was a tough break, as one could make the argument that Lewiston deserved to win that contest. The MAINEiacs outshot Moncton 43-20, including a 17-3 margin in the final twenty minutes. Unfortunately, the team is running into some tremendous goaltending as of late, and credit has to be given to both Shane Owen and Andrew Hayes. However, that is just how the game works sometimes. I spoke briefly with Roger Shannon after the game, and he said that sometimes you win games that you shouldn't, and sometimes you lose games that you shouldn't. When push comes to shove, it's a 68-game season, and those types of games will even themselves out in the wash.

As for the trip, we stayed in Moncton again last night, and will be leaving for Saint John shortly. Therefore, I don't have a city or an arena report on Saint John yet, but I can say that I am definitely looking forward to our arrival. I have heard nothing but good things about Harbour Station, and I have heard that the city is very nice as well. In both cities on the trip thus far, there have been old American Hockey League banners hanging from the rafters, thanks to the Cape Breton Oilers and the Moncton Hawks. I am hoping to see a few Saint John Flames logos today, as that was a team that I saw a lot of growing up. They were a fun team to watch, possessing the likes of Martin St. Louis and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Following tonight's tilt, we will make our venture back to Maine, and I just overheard that wraps will be on the menu for the ride home. Wraps are one of the easier culinary delights to enjoy on the bus, as they don't require silverware, and they tend to stay in one piece. The trip home will be a short one (all things considered), which is always welcomed by everyone. Plus, there is an extra bonus on this trip, as we gain back the hour that we lost on Sunday. It might only be one hour, but it will be nice to have the Bruins back at their normal time of 7:00, rather than having to wait until 8:00.

For those of you listening back at home, the broadcast kicks off with the pregame show at 6:10, before a 6:30 face-off in what should be one terrific night of hockey. Enjoy the battle, and we'll look forward to a packed house on Sunday!



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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