Alex Sousa is upset, and with good reason.
The first-year defenseman, a 19-year-old from Massachusetts, was just starting to find his rhythm in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Now, he is sidelined up to 10 weeks with a broken left arm.
“I stinks, man,” Sousa said after Friday’s game, still wearing a black suit to match his cast. “I have to have surgery. I was just starting to feel comfortable out there, just starting to get used to it.”
While Sousa’s loss stings, the Maineiacs are fortunate this season to have kept nine defensemen on board after training camp. Now, instead of splitting time on defense, 16-year-old rookie Kevin Marshall will see a regular shift.
“I think (Sousa) was coming around, too,” said Maineiacs’ assistant coach Jeff Guay. “You know, for a 16-year-old, Marshall is playing well, and he’s going to gain even more experience. We have no problem putting him in. He can even play power plays and he’s a competitor. I wouldn’t even say, really, that we’re losing that much depth. If Marshall wasn’t here, it might be a question, but with him slipping right in I think it fills the hole. It’s unfortunate for Alex, though.”
Finally, goal support
Jonathan Bernier may have been upset after losing in Friday’s night’s shootout against the Halifax Mooseheads, but at least this time there was no need to be upset with a lack of offense in one of his starts.
Lewiston scored five goals for the first time in seven games (since Oct. 15 against Bathurst), and the Maineiacs scored more than two goals in one of Bernier’s starts for the first time since Oct. 1.
“It takes off some pressure a little bit,” said Maineiacs’ leading scorer and assistant captain Mathieu Aubin. “We worked hard. We have a team when we don’t work hard we will not win.”
Leading by example
Aubin is certainly working hard this season in his own right. The 19-year-old Montreal Canadiens draft pick leads the team in almost every offensive category. Through 19 games, Aubin has 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points. Seven of his 13 goals have come on the power play, and two have been game-winning goals.
On Friday night, Aubin almost single-handedly brought the team back from a two-goal deficit against Halifax in the final minute of play, scoring twice to force overtime.
“Mathieu really stepped it up (Friday),” said Guay. “He gave us a great effort. We had some video work with him this week and he was competing harder. Is he clutch? Yes, he’s got that great shot when needed.”
Shootout woes
The Maineiacs are winless, having scored just five goals in their four shootouts, three of which came Friday night against Halifax. On the flip side, Lewiston has given up nine shootout goals, four of which came Friday.
The team with the most games ending in a shootout this season is Acadie-Bathurst, which has won three games and lost twice in shootouts. Fourteen teams of the 18 in the QMJHL have been to one of 14 shootouts this season.
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