ROUYN-NORANDA, Quebec – Not too long ago, Marc-Andre Cliche was admittedly a Rouyn-Noranda Huskies’ fan.

“I came to games all the time,” the Lewiston Maineiacs rookie forward said. “I used to come watch them play when I played youth hockey.”

Cliche is from Bellecombe, a town about 15 minutes outside of Rouyn-Noranda, and he played hockey down the street from the Dave Keon Arena, the Huskies home rink.

Now, as a 16-year-old rookie with the Lewiston Maineiacs, he has come home for the third time.

“We came back twice during the regular season,” Cliche said. “It is good because I get to see my family, and they got to see me.”

Admittedly, though, this trip is a bit different for Cliche.

“Now, this is the playoffs,” Cliche said. “I think that is better. The play is harder, and the atmosphere is different.”

Still, according to Cliche, it was just another road trip, with a small added bonus.

“I guess this was just like if were to go to Victoriaville or Drummondville or anything,” Cliche said, “but here, my family is here.”

The only trepidation in Cliche’s voice was at the prospect of showing his new haircut to his family.

Cliche, along with the rest of the team, is sporting blonde hair, but he and his linemates on the “rookie line” went a step further, cutting their hair into classic mullets.

“I have not shown them yet, except for my father who came to practice (Friday) morning,” Cliche said. “They get to see that for the first time, too.”

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