LEWISTON – Fans after last week’s game against Halifax were scratching their heads after the attendance was announced at 2,193. The crowd was visibly larger than any other crowd since opening night, but the number was the lowest of the season.

According to team officials, the reason behind the apparent discrepancy is a computer glitch.

“The numbers we had for the games after the opener have all been off,” said Vice President and Governor Matt McKnight. “They were too high before, and that was because of the computer. We had that fixed last week, and the number that we gave on Friday night was the real number.”

The glitch affected home game No. 2 against Shawinigan, where the announced attendance was 2,318, and games against Baie-Comeau (2,628) and Québec (2,347 and 2,551).

“From now on, we should be OK,” said McKnight. “We know that the opener was right because we stopped selling tickets and the place was full, and we know that the last game was right. The numbers, although lower than what we had hoped, is right about where we projected for this time of year.”

The projected crowd at the first home game of the season Sept. 19 was 3,462, and the number of people in attendance is judged not on the actual number of people through the gate, but on the number of tickets sold, including season ticket holders.

Fans talking

The Maineiacs’ Web site was updated last week.

The re-design included the addition of a fan forum, which can be reached by going to the www.lewistonhockey.com site. The chat forum is under the fans section, and includes the opportunity for anyone to post their feelings on the team and any issues surrounding the team that may pop up.

In just the first week, more than 30 users have registered, and more than 150 messages were posted.

Around the league

Dany Roussin of the Rimouski Océanic and Martin Houle of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles have been named this week’s QMJHL offensive and defensive players of the week.

Roussin, who has been drafted by the Florida Panthers of the NHL, is a left wing for Rimouski and last week racked up three goals and seven assists for 10 points in three games.

Other players receiving votes in the offensive category were: Pascal Pelletier (Shawinigan), Benoit Mondou (Shawinigan) and Martin Mandeville (Baie-Comeau).

Houle nabbed the defensive honor with a 2-1 record over three games, recording a 2.31 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage. He averaged 31.7 shots against in three games, including 41 against in a 3-2 overtime loss to the league’s best team, the Gatineau Olympiques.

Overall this season, Houle has a 1.97 GAA and a .925 save percentage.

Others considered for the defensive award were: Julien Ellis (Shawinigan), Michal Sersen (Rimouski) and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (Chicoutimi).

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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