PORTLAND - Jonathan Bernier: elite goaltender and, uh, popcorn vendor?

Bernier, the former three-year starting netminder for Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, looked out of place Saturday.

Alone and ostracized from his team by a quirky bench setup at the Cumberland County Civic Center as the visiting goaltender, Bernier slouched in a folding chair between the two penalty boxes, across the ice from the players' benches.

He was fully equipped to play in the Manchester Monarchs' season-opening game against the Portland Pirates, save for his mask, which sat on the floor next to him, still painted with the same roaring lion as last season.

And there he sat, watching his teammates suffer a 6-3 loss to the Pirates.

"I looked at him across the ice there, and I realized what this game means to him," Manchester coach Mark Morris said. "I kind of joked with him between periods that he could have been selling popcorn over there. He kind of smiled. I know he wants the opportunity to show the people here in Maine that he's the real deal and that he's going to be the goalie of the future in this organization."

Bernier was obviously disappointed, too. But, with the same classy demeanor he displayed so often in Lewiston, he shrugged off the apparent snub.

"I'm just coming back from injury, so I didn't do the main camp," Bernier said. "I had a good rookie camp, but I hurt myself after, and I had two, two-and-a-half weeks off, and I came back here. Now I have to work hard, and hopefully go back there soon."

Bernier suffered a hip flexor injury a few days after rookie camp broke for the Los Angeles Kings. Unable to perform at their training camp, the Kings assigned Bernier to their top affiliate in Manchester, N.H.

"They told us we'll alternate goalies, I think, for the first month," Bernier said. "The schedule is pretty soft for the first month, where we only play two games a week. One goalie would be enough for the first month, but they want us both to stay in game shape, and they'll see after that."

"There's going to be a healthy competition," Morris said. "The thing with Jonathan Bernier, he's used to playing almost every game for his team, and I think this is something we have to be mindful of in this organization, as far as is he getting enough quality shots so that his career can move forward. It's going to be a matter of time before one guy starts pulling away from the other, but until then, we need to make sure that they both see enough games and shots."

The Monarchs don't play again until Friday in Lowell, Mass., and Bernier will likely get the start that night.

"I'm anxious to see Jonathan Bernier back in the net, because I know he's hungry to succeed and work his way up to the Kings," Morris said.

Off the ice, Bernier is adjusting well to life as a professional.

"It's fun to change it up a little bit," Bernier said. "It's a new step. It's fun to live on your own, you're more free. I think that's the biggest difference for me."

And in the debate over which city is better, Manchester or Los Angeles? No contest.

"There's no question, L.A.," Bernier said without hesitation, throwing in a knowing laugh. "But this is the step they want me to take right now. I'm going to enjoy my time here. Hopefully it's going to be short, but I have to do the job here first."

Morris is sure he'll get Bernier's best, too, no matter how long he's in Manchester.

"He's a great competitor and he's going to be an outstanding goaltender at the pro level," Morris said. "We have every reason to believe he is going to live up to his billing."

That is, his billing as a high-end goaltender. Selling popcorn? That's a whole other story.