LEWISTON – The number on the back of the helmet was 69, and the jersey read No. 28, but one look at the swift winger with bright red hockey pants is all a casual Lewiston hockey fan has needed to identify Alexandre Picard in practices this week.
With his hunched-over skating style and speed unlike most of the rest of the campers, Picard seems out of his element. His skating is more refined and compact, and he is more relaxed on the ice than the rest of the skaters. He stickhandles with ease and seems to score at will.
At 20, Picard is eligible to skate with the Maineiacs this season. The likelihood of that, however, is almost non-existent.
“I want to get ready, to be in shape for my camp in Columbus,” said Picard, who was drafted by the Blue Jackets of the NHL eighth overall in the 2004 entry draft. “I want to be in shape for camp when it starts on September 4.”
A pressing stare and a roll of the eyes later, and Picard relented.
“I also wanted to see everybody, too,” admitted the star player. “This team, it is like a big family to me, and I wanted to see all of them one more time. I wanted to see my billet family, too. They have been like a second family to me here.”
In practice on Wednesday, Picard showed no mercy on the Maineiacs’ 16-year-old rookie defenseman Kevin Marshall as he crashed the net.
The two scuffled for a bit and then both tumbled to the ice.
“He was holding my stick,” said Picard as a smile broke across his face. “I talked with him afterwards about it, too. I am not here to make enemies, and I am here to talk to everybody, too. Coach told me if I am here, I need to lead by example. I remember being 16 in this league and looking up to the older players at camp, and I am trying to help make it as easy as possible for the younger players this year.”
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