The Lewiston Maineiacs put on an entertaining and impressive performance in their first preseason game in Maine .
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

HALLOWELL – It didn’t take long Friday night for those in the stands to see just what the Lewiston Maineiacs are all about.

Just 4:09 into the game, Ryan Murphy wrapped around the side of the net, took a pass from Kevin Turgeon and banged home the shot past Quebec netminder Jean-Michel Filiatrault to give the Maineiacs a 1-0 lead.

Scoring? Check.

Less than two minutes before the goal, Josh Hennessy of Quebec and Sheldon Wenzel of Lewiston started throwing punches. Hennessy, one of Quebec’s top goal-scorers, is not a fighter so the Remparts retaliated by sending strongman Brandon Tidball after Maineiacs’ No. 1 selection Marc-Andre Cliche. The Maineiac nearly knocked Tidball over with a punch to the nose. A total of five fights in the first 20 minutes brought many fans to their feet.

Mettle? Check.

After finishing the first period in a 1-0 goaltender’s battle, it was the offense’s turn to put on a show while the tough guys sat out. Quebec scored four goals in the first seven minutes, and Lewiston responded with four of its own in the first 14 minutes, keeping the margin at one but showing off their playmaking ability and some grit for coming from behind.

Offensive cohesion? Check.

With a one-goal lead to protect, the goaltender and the defense had their turn. By the end of the game, the scoreboard read 6-4 after the Maineiacs pounded in a late goal on a 5-on-3 power play.

Defensive strategy? Check.

Defenseman Chad Denny had a goal and an assist, Francis Trudel and Vladislav Balaz had two assists each, while Brandon Verge made 19 saves on 23 shots as the Maineiacs came from behind to defeat the Quebec Remparts 6-4 in front of a boisterous crowd at Kennebec Ice Arena.

“We did some good things tonight,” said Maineiacs coach Mario Durocher. “There were things we could have done better, but we won, and that counts, too.”

After a first period in which Murphy’s goal was the only tally, the offense opened up. Quebec started the rampage, scoring four goals in just 6:10 to open the period.

“Everyone was still coming off of the first period,” said Verge. “We went through a rough spot there at the beginning of the period, but after everyone settled down, we played better.”

Lewiston retaliated with two goals of its own and regained the lead for good with six minutes to play. From there, the defense reappeared.

“The defense really followed the play well tonight, and we shut them down when we had to,” said Durocher. “We were disciplined when we had to be disciplined.”

A fight in the first period involving Lewiston tough guy Sheldon Wenzel sparked some controversy. Wenzel was apparently engaged by Quebec forward Josh Hennessy, arguably the Remparts’ best player.

In retaliation, on the next line change Quebec sent their own fighter after Marc-Andre Cliche, one of the Maineiacs’ best young players.

In the hallway after the period, Quebec owner, four-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Roy, was heard shouting at the Maineiacs down the hallway near the locker rooms, incensed that they had sent a fighter after his best player.

“I really thought that Hennessy had come after Sheldon,” Durocher said after the game. “We couldn’t see that well down there, but that happens in this league.”

After five fights in the QMJHL preseason, each team involved is assessed a $1,000 fine. After the five fights in the first period, both teams took a breather for the rest of the game. The play was still rough, but no more fights sprung up.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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