The forward is selected to play in the Canadian Hockey League RE/MAX Challenge.
LEWISTON – While the Lewiston Maineiacs have been struggling, one of their forwards, fan favorite Alexandre Picard, has been flying high. On Tuesday, he was recognized for those efforts.
In a press conference from Longueuil, Quebec, Gilles Courteau, commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, announced that Picard, along with 21 other players in the QMJHL, will represent the league in the Canadian Hockey League RE/MAX Challenge.
The challenge is a series of games between each of the three leagues of the CHL and a team from Russia. The QMJHL team will play against the Russian team Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Halifax Metro Centre and again Monday, Nov. 24 at Rimouski Coliseum.
The players invited to play on the team have also been added to the invitation list to try out for team Canada in the upcoming Wolrd Junior Championships.
Blair Mackasey, Head Scout at Hockey Canada, and two general managers of the QMJHL, Doris Labonté (Rimouski Oceanic) and Stéphane Pilotte (Val-d’Or Foreurs), made the selections.
Maineiacs coach Mario Durocher was tabbed three weeks ago to lead the All-Star team against the Russians in both games.
The following players have been named to the roster: Goaltenders Corey Crawford (Moncton), Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (Chicoutimi) and Marc-André Fleury (Cape Breton), defensemen James Sanford (Moncton), Patrick Coulombe (Rimouski), Bruno Gervais (Acadie-Bathurst), Doug O’Brien (Gatineau), Alexandre Picard (Cape Breton), Rosario Ruggeri (Chicoutimi) and Nathan Sanders (Moncton), and forwards Patrice Bergeron (Acadie-Bathurst), Marc-André Bernier (Cape Breton), Steve Bernier (Moncton), Sidney Crosby (Rimouski), Stephen Dixon (Cape Breton), Franois-Pierre Guénette (Cape Breton), Jean-Franois Jacques (Baie-Comeau), Alexandre Picard (Lewiston), Antoine Pouliot (Rimouski), Dany Roussin (Rimouski), Maxime Talbot (Gatineau) and Cory Urquhart (P.E.I).
Should Marc-André Fleury (Pittsburgh) or Patrice Bergeron (Boston) still be playing in the NHL, they will be replaced by Maxime Daigneault (Val d’Or) and Michal Lambert (P.E.I.).
Former defenseman Cam Russel from Halifax will be the honorary captain for the game in Halifax. Russel played for the Hull Olympiques (1985-86 to 1988-89), the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he ended his professional career in 1998-99.
He acted as an assistant coach with the Halifax Mooseheads in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Former right winger Louis Sleigher will be the honorary captain in Rimouski. Sleigher, born in Nouvelle Quebec, played with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in 1976-77 and 1977-78, and with the Quebec Nordiques until 1984-85. He then was traded to the Boston Bruins and ended his career in 1985-86.
Cliche tabbed
Marc-André Cliche, the Maineiacs’ top draft pick this season, has been invited to participate in the final selection camp for the Quebec Under-17 team from Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2.
There are currently 26 invited players, and head coach Martin Raymond will trim the roster to 22 by the end of the weekend.
The team will take part in the World Championships in Newfoundland, Canada from Dec. 29, 2003 to Jan. 4, 2004.
Of the 26 prospects, 11 are current QMJHL players.
jpelletier@sunjournal.com
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