LEWISTON – One word describes the biggest change for the Lions Tournament in 2005.
Maineiacs.
The logo stares out from all of the team jerseys. Players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team-skate with the youngest players. And the Colisee, dressed up for the team, looks just as spiffy for the Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League.
“It makes it a little more special, to skate where their heroes skate,” said Sue Gravel, the mother of 8-year-old Brett, who plays for the Mite division’s Orange team.
Greg Bourgoin, hockey director for the tournament, said the Maineiacs have made a difference.
Each team has had a special Maineiacs game night during the season and there was a special Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League night at the Colisee. But the highlight was Skills and Drills day on Monday. A dozen or so Maineiacs players spent the day skating with the youth hockey players.
“Then at the end, they gave medals to all the Atoms and Mini-Mites,” said parent-volunteer Sue Smith. “All the little kids got a medal. Imagine how that made them feel.”
In the end, however, the kids are the stars of this tournament. Parents said they were happy to miss a few days of work to watch their kids play.
“This has just been a great year,” said parent John Marcous Jr. “At least in the Squirts, the teams have been really evenly matched. The coaches did a great job early in the year picking the teams. They’ve all done really well.”
The tournament wraps up today with the finals in all divisions and the closing ceremonies. They’ll award the raffle prizes and pack up the banners until next season.
Attendance has been brisk. More than 1,000 people had bought the $5, 2-inch hockey sticks that serve as all-access passes for the five-day tournament. Commemorative T-shirts had all but sold out and raffle items were popular.
“People were even more generous than usual, donating things for the raffle,” said Sue Smith, the parent-volunteer. Prizes included skiing packages at Lost Valley, remote-controlled cars and an Apple iPod.
Smith’s son made it to the finals when his Orange team clinched a spot in the Mite division championship game Wednesday.
“That’s why I’m so relaxed,” she said. “I won’t be nearly this calm Thursday.”
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