Road Report from Rimouski

February 20, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Lewiston MAINEiacs News Release


Good morning from Rimouski, where the MAINEiacs will take the ice later this afternoon, in search of their fifth win in six tries this season against the Oceanic.

The team rolled into town last night after a few notable stops along the way. First, the team had lunch at Pizza Hut, which was located in Woodstock, New Brunswick. There isn't really a straight line route to get from Lewiston to Rimouski, making the Houlton/Woodstock Border Crossing the best bet. Since we went through the Maritimes, we spent a few hours in Atlantic Time, as we drove through New Brunswick on our way to Quebec. However, because we were so close to the actual time line itself in Woodstock, Darren Rumble's cell phone was constantly switching back and forth between time zones during lunch.

Lunch itself was a pizza buffet, which is the second time we have been treated to such a meal this season. Pizza, pasta, salad, and breadsticks were all on the menu, making this stop a winner. Personally, I was impressed with the pizza, as the dough was both thick and soft, making it easy to eat (as opposed to practically breaking a tooth on some crusts I've had), while also adding a solid flavor. Similar to our stop at Pizza Delight earlier this year, there was a dessert pizza on the menu. This was essentially an apple pie, except instead of in a pie crust, it was on top of the pizza dough. Icing and cinnamon crumbs were also dribbled across the top, adding to the presentation. I thought it was very good, but I am still biased toward the cherry pie pizza from Pizza Delight. Darren Rumble disagrees, picking Pizza Hut's as his favorite.

After lunch, we headed to a small town named St. Fabien for practice. We couldn't practice at Colisee de Rimouski, as the Oceanic were playing host to Victoriaville in a 4:00 game. This is the second time we have gone to St. Fabien this season, and let me just qualify this place as a true "beauty." Would I like to go there on a regular basis No. However, because of the limited times we do go there, it makes for a few good laughs.

For starters, the rink itself is more or less located in the middle of a neighborhood, meaning there are some interesting looks when our charter bus rolls by. I'm sure thoughts from the locals range everywhere from, "Holy smokes, it's a bus!" to "I wonder if they are lost." Getting into the rink was an adventure yesterday, as there is a sharp curve, followed by a hill. Rene (our bus driver for the trip) couldn't pull it off at first, but was quick to come up with a backup plan, turning the opposite direction down the hill, before getting a running start back in the correct direction. The backup plan worked like a charm, and the whole bus cheered in appreciation of Rene's hard work. When we got off, Rene admitted it was the first time he had ever been cheered for driving a bus up a hill!

Inside the rink, it is cold - really cold. Parts of the arena's inside walls are actually covered with snow and ice, while the walkway leading to the benches is also frozen over in some parts, making it a slick and slippery treck. Most of the dressing rooms are pretty modern, although one of the rooms that we got was filled with church pews (had the insignia of the cross and everything), rather than your standard hockey bench.

However, that's not all. The icing on the cake in this arena is the zamboni (if you want to call it a zamboni). When we first came here in October, I was extremely amused by it. Because of how small the rink is (three rows of "seats" on one side and that's it), the zamboni is actually stored outside, so you are in suspense to start. Once the players get off of the ice, the magic begins. A garage door opens on the far side of the rink, and a tractor makes its way onto the ice. The tractor is equipped with the necessary parts to get the job done, but it is definitely a sight to see, especially for an indoor arena.

Following practice, it was time for dinner, which was located at Buffet Chinois (Chinese Buffet for those of you who need translation). One of the neater aspects of the restaurant greets you immediately when you enter the front door, as a massive fish is swimming around in its tank (special thanks to Matt Flaherty for the pic!). As for the food, although there were some Chinese dishes on the menu, a good portion of the buffet was pretty standard North American cuisine. For example, Smoked Meat (a dish primarily found in Quebec) was an option, which definitely put smiles on the faces of the staff.

Moving ahead, since today is an afternoon game, there was no morning skate, meaning brunch was at 11:00, and I got to sleep in. Needless to say, that makes for one happy broadcaster, who will certainly be ready to rock this afternoon! The pregame show gets going at 3:40, with opening face-off scheduled for 4:00. Enjoy the game, as the race for playoff positioning is definitely in full swing!

SEASON TICKET HOLDER REMINDERS

Season ticket holders, don't forget that the February 23rd deadline to purchase playoff packages exclusively is approaching quickly. Don't miss the excitement of the QMJHL Playoffs in Lewiston!

Also, the annual season ticket holder skate with the team will be taking place on Sunday February 27th, following the MAINEiacs' home game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs!

MAINEiacs FAN BUS NEWS

The MAINEiacs will be offering a fan bus for the last Maritime swing of the season on March 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

Lewiston will play one game in Halifax on the 3rd, followed by a pair games at PEI on the 4th and 5th.

Round trip charter for the trip leaves Lewiston at 3:00 AM on Thursday March 3rd, and returns after the game on Saturday March 5th.

Cost is $299 per person based on double occupancy.

Cost includes tickets for 3 games, 2 nights accommodations, and transportation.

To take advantange of this great opportunity, please sign up at the Fan Service Table under Section 7, or call the MAINEiacs Office at 333-FANS.

Seats are selling quickly - reserve yours now!

(A minimum of 48 people will be required.)



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2011


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