LEWISTON – With the playoffs just two nights away, the Maineiacs took time on Wednesday to reflect on their inaugural season at the first annual dinner and awards banquet, held at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center.

“The Lewiston Maineiacs have created a renewed passion for hockey in Lewiston,” Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay said in his opening remarks.

In all, eight players and one member of the organization took home awards in 10 categories, including Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Best Sportsmanship and Unsung Hero.

The penultimate award of the night was the Bernard Just Trophy, awarded to the most valuable member of the organization. This year, Ron Guerin, one of the team’s billet coordinators, received the award.

“This person has been instrumental in all aspect of the team,” Maineiacs Vice President and Governor Matt McKnight said in his presentation. “Whatever he was asked to do, whether it fell under his department or not, he did it, and did it willingly.”

At the podium, Guerin was shellshocked, and after the ceremony, he was still searching for words.

“I never expected this at all,” Guerin said. “Actually, I did get a bit choked up.”

The award is named in honor of majority owner Mark Just’s father, to whom the younger Just attributes his passion for the game of hockey.

In the player categories Alexandre Picard was awarded the Oxford Networks’ Trophy as the team’s scoring leader after amassing 39 goals and 41 assists for 80 points.

His linemate for most of the season, Gabriel Balasescu, garnered the Federal Distributors’ Trophy as the team’s most improved player. Balasescu, as a 20-year-old, scored more points this season (71) than he had over the rest of his entire career in the QMJHL (48).

Sheldon Wenzel was the night’s only multiple winner, taking home the Country Kitchen Trophy for outstanding community involvement and the Seltzer and Rydholm Trophy, the fan’s choice award.

Mathieu Aubin won the Androscoggin Bank Trophy as the rookie of the year, scoring 42 points in 68 games.

Maxime Robert was awarded the City of Lewiston Trophy for academic excellence after finishing four classes this year with an ‘A’ average, including a class in Physics.

Among the top defensemen in the league all season, Jonathan Paiement received the Sam’s Italian Foods Trophy as the team’s top blueliner, and Vladislav Balaz won the People’s Bank Trophy for sportsmanship.

Finally, Bobby Gates was awarded the Emerson Auto Park Trophy as the team’s unsung hero for converting for his solid play on the blue line all season.

NOTES: Lewiston travels to Rouyn-Noranda, leaving at 8 a.m. on Thursday, for the playoffs. The Maineiacs first take the ice at 7:30 p.m. on Friday for the first of two games against the Huskies in Canada before returning to the Colisee next Tuesday and Wednesday.

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