After transferring from Leavitt, the Lewiston forward was forced to sit out a season.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The crushing hits perked up the small crowd at the Central Maine Civic Center. Fans started chanting his name, while others hooted and hollered as an opposing player went crashing to the ice or into the boards.

Adam Longchamps has been waiting a year to hear those sounds again and to prove that he belongs as a hockey player and student at Lewiston High School.

“I’m so happy to be playing again,” said Longchamps. “That year off, I’d watch the games and know that I could be out there, and it was frustrating.”

Longchamps couldn’t play last season when Lewiston High School made a run to the Eastern Regional final against Edward Little. He was a transfer student from Leavitt Area High School.

“The new rule that was in place said that I had to sit out a year if I transferred,” said Longchamps. “That is, unless a principal signs a waiver. My principal wouldn’t sign my waiver, so I had to sit.”

Longchamps was forced to sit out the year because the system is designed to stop recruiting at schools, as sanctioned by the Maine Principals’ Association.

“I was having problems at Leavitt,” said Longchamps. “I had problems with my grades, with my teachers. At Lewiston, I am doing better in school, I am enjoying it. I have a lot of friends, and it’s much better for me in the classroom.”

Despite his pleas for a waiver, his claim was denied, relegating him to a year of shinny hockey and men’s league hockey.

“I still skated,” said Longchamps, “and I never missed a Lewiston game as a fan, but it hurt not to be playing.”

By playing in the men’s league last winter, and by his predisposition as an aggressive player, Longchamps has become a valuable asset on the Blue Devils’ bench.

“He played for the junior Pirates’ midget team over the summer,” said Lewiston coach Tim Smith. “He had a year away from playing competitive hockey with kids his own age, but still he has the potential to be a top player.”

Smith said that Longchamps has the skills he needs as a shooter and as a power forward, and his physical nature certainly helps a lineup decimated by graduation, but there are a few things left on his list of things to recover.

“We’re not worried about him when he has the puck,” said Smith. “We are working on what he needs to do when he doesn’t have the puck, the defensive part of the game.”

Although Smith knew Longchamps was eventually going to try out for the team and was living next door to Smith, the coach stayed away from him due to the guidelines set forth by the MPA.

“I couldn’t talk to him about the team as a coach,” said Smith. “And I didn’t. I would never put the team in jeopardy for the sake of one player. He is a great asset to the team, but we waited and went through the appropriate channels. He’s legal now, and it won’t be long before he fits right in. He knows a lot of the kids already, and he’s started out very well so far this season.”

With injuries to key players like Jason Dube (groin) and Tyler Richard (hand) to start the season, the Blue Devils might ask Longchamps to jump right in and be a go-to forward. Judging from the crowds’ early reaction, his fans are ready, also.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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