LEWISTON – Lewiston Maineiacs’ principal owner Mark Just is a simple businessman. He sees things he likes, and encourages them. He sees thing he doesn’t, and will be honest about that, too.
As for one of his bigger investments – the Lewiston Maineiacs – his emotions following the first half of the team’s third season since moving from Sherbrooke are mixed.
“For having a young team, I’m happy with what we’ve done in the first half of the year,” said Just. “Now I’m expecting a lot more. These kids, going forward from Christmastime and God willing into the playoffs, should be utilizing the experience they gained because we gave a lot of young kids a lot of ice time. They’re not going to be rookies in the second half of the year.”
Off the ice, Just is concerned about a drop in attendance this season when compared to last year’s numbers. Through 17 home games (prior to today’s game), the Maineiacs had drawn an average of 2,439 per game. That number represents 66 percent of total capacity at the Colisee, which holds 3,675 spectators for a hockey game.
The league average is 67 percent capacity.
Just sees a slight correlation between the product on the ice, which he calls “very good” already, and the number of fans attending. Still, Just said, there is a piece – maybe even two or three – missing.
“The attendance has been disappointing,” admitted Just. “I’m hoping the second half of the season should be better, and into the playoffs should be better, too. I think we’re playing with more passion than before, but we can continue to improve that.
“We need some guys that the fans come and say it was worth coming to see that kid play because he played hard, the team played hard. We’ve got our eyes on a couple of kids that are like that, and I think that’s what this team needs – not necessarily heavyweight fighters, but kids who have passion and aren’t going to back down and the fans will be happy to see them play.”
Just also said his visit just three days before the trade period opened was no coincidence.
“I’m here because, I talked to Clem (Jodoin, the Maineiacs’ head coach and general manager) at the World Juniors tonight, I talked to him all week, and I’m meeting with Ed Harding (the team’s assistant coach and assistant general manager) tomorrow after the practice because Ed’s in charge of getting the deals on the tables, and Ed, and Jeff (Guay) and Serge David our head scout, and myself, just to say yes or no. But they’ve seen the players more than I have. I want to hear everything, and I want to see our guys right before the period starts. You’ll notice most of our players (were) playing (Friday). There’s a reason for that, because I said I wanted to see everybody.”
Just did remind people who talked to him, though, that he felt the team was in a good position on talent already, saying the team won’t “trade players for the sake of trading players.”
We’re not trading out of desperation,” said Just, “but we think there are some holes that we know what they are, I’m sure you know what they are, and we’re looking at the options. We’re not making inquiries, everyone is calling us.
“It’s the greatest thing, because it used to be we’d call up and people would ask who we had that was worth looking at. Now, we’re getting calls from almost everyone in the league, so we can kind of pick and choose, if they want to give us the guys we want, we’ll make the deal. If they don’t, we won’t.”
Just will be at the game against Rouyn-Noranda this afternoon and will meet again with the rest of the team’s officials, including head coach Clem Jodoin by phone, before any decisions are made on potential trades.
“This is a team for the future, too,” said Just. “We have a lot of young kids right now that aren’t even here yet that will be here next year, and I think this is a place a lot of people want to be but we have to be cognizant of where our shortcomings are, not fool ourselves and pretend we have more than we have.”
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