After sloshing through last season with no clear leader, the Lewiston Maineiacs made their selection for a captain Thursday.
“Last year, I couldn’t find that on the team,” said coach Clem Jodoin. “We had a club, but not a team. Now we know where we’re going and what we want. This year, we have the leadership we’re looking for.”
The Maineiacs selected Brandon Roach as the team’s second captain in franchise history, while Olivier Legault, Mathieu Aubin and Marc-Andre Cliche will serve as alternate captains.
“This year there is a captain on this team, a leader on this team,” said Jodoin. “There’s a positive leader. I don’t want a leader who’s there for his name. I want a leader who will care about the team, who will care about his teammates. Roach is that leader.”
Until Thursday, Francis Trudel was the only captain of the Maineiacs during the team’s inaugural season.
Last year, four different players wore A’s – Jonathan Paiement, Roach, Alexandre Picard and Sheldon Wenzel. The letters, though, were more to appease the league than to grant leadership roles.
“This year, the captains will work with us, with the staff,” said Jodoin.
Net gain
Anyone following the Maineiacs through training camp knew Jonathan Bernier was the team’s No. 1 netminder. The question was, who would be No. 2?
Eighteen-year-old Travis Fullerton earned that title and then some with some stellar play during the exhibition season. Jodoin, asked about his No. 1 goaltender being among the best of the league, stopped the question before it was even completed.
“Both goaltenders,” Jodoin clarified quickly. “Both goaltenders are very good. Travis is a very good goaltender, and Jon is a very good goaltender, too. “
For sure, they are going to win some games for you, but we have to be good in front of them, too.”
Comments are no longer available on this story