Forward posts farewell on Web site

LEWISTON – Lucas Labelle has played his final game with the Lewiston Maineiacs.

On the second day teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League were allowed to trade underage players, the Maineiacs made a move involving one of their 20-year-olds.

Labelle, who came to Lewiston in October 2007 as a free agent acquisition, had four goals and 11 points in 37 games for the Maineiacs this season after recording 10 goals and 17 points in 54 games for the squad last season while racking up 105 penalty minutes.

This year, after a hot start, Labelle cooled off, and his penalty minute totals are down.

“I got an e-mail from (coach) Ed (Harding) this morning,” Labelle said Sunday. “I called him, and the first thing he asked me was about my travel, and if I was OK to get out. Then he told me that the organization had some bad news for me.”

Lewiston was Labelle’s fourth team in the QMJHL, and he’d also had stops in Oshawa (OHL) and in Finland.

“It’s just another bump in the road,” Labelle said. “I really enjoyed my time here in Lewiston. The fans all treated me well and I’m going to miss it here. I had a good time, and it was fun while it lasted.”

The Maineiacs, meanwhile, are remaining silent until at least Monday.

“This organization will not comment officially on anything until (Monday),” Maineiacs’ GM and coach Ed Harding said.

In a post to fans on the team’s Internet chat site just before noon on Sunday, Labelle wrote the following:

well i’ve never done this before, but since you fans have been so good to me while I was here, i’ll return the favor… well i’ve been let go as of today… i being luc labelle… appreently the team (ed) says i lost my edge and it was an organizational decision.. well i’m on weivers or he said he was going to try and move me… lewiston has made a trade for another 17 year old forward and they’re bringing up tomy dary for the rest of the year… soo all i can say is thanks for the times in lewy, i’ve had a blast.

lucas labelle

The move leaves Lewiston with just one 20-year-old player on the team – sniper Max Gratchev.

Meanwhile, La Nouvelle, a newspaper out of Victoriaville, is reporting that the Tigres and Maineiacs will swap 17-year-old skaters.

The paper reports that the Maineiacs will send 17-year-old 2007 draft pick Pierre-Luc Pelletier, a defenseman, to Victoriaville for 17-year-old forward Nick Huard.

Huard, an invited player from North Bay, Ontario, has a goal and an assist in 20 games with the Tigres this season.

Pelletier has never played for Lewiston.

The league’s mid-season trade period opened Saturday morning, and runs until Jan. 8.