LEWISTON – As if Lewiston Maineiacs coach Clem Jodoin didn’t already have enough to deal with as both a head coach of a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team and an assistant with the Canadian National Junior team.
The Lewiston Maineiacs coach received another title Tuesday: Head coach of the QMJHL all-star team that will face off against a group of Russian players on Nov. 21 and Nov. 23.
“That is a part of the policy of Team Canada,” said Jodoin. “If I am involved with the World Juniors, I am involved with this.”
Unlike his stint with the World Junior Championships, which will cause Jodoin to miss at least two weeks in December and January, this gig will not require him to be away from the Maineiacs.
“Even if I was,” said Jodoin, “I am confident in the rest of the staff, with the rest of the coaches to take care of things when I am not here.”
The Maineiacs also have two players on the team – Mathieu Aubin and Chad Denny – both at forward.
Aubin has scored at least one point in every game this season, while Denny is a relative newcomer to the position, and still does not play up front full time.
“That is where they wanted to play him,” said Jodoin, “so that is where I will play him.”
Other recognizable names on the QMJHL’s team include former Maineiacs forward Alex Bourret of Shawinigan, 16-year-old Angelo Esposito of Quebec, and goaltender Julien Ellis of Shawinigan. Joining Ellis in net is Pier-Olivier Pelletier of Drummondville.
The Voltigeurs led the way with four members, while Halifax, Quebec, Val d’Or and Shawinigan are each sending three. Acadie-Bathurst, Moncton and Lewiston will each send two players, while Rouyn-Noranda, PEI, Cape Breton and Chicoutimi each have one.
Neither expansion team – Saint John and St. John’s – placed a player on the team, nor did Baie-Comeau, Gatineau, Victoriaville or Rimouski.
This is the third annual ADT Canada/Russia Challenge, and the series of games will play an important role in the selection process for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.
After the games against the QMJHL, the Russians will head west to face similar teams from the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.
Comments are no longer available on this story