LEWISTON – They came, they saw, they barbecued.

With the warming spring sun beating down on the blacktop in the parking lot at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, people began to show up before noon, toting grills, fire pits, hockey sticks, whiffle bats – and plenty of food.

Similar to playoff tailgate parties from years’ past, the atmosphere was festive, almost celebratory.

Sunday marked the Lewiston Maineiacs’ final regular season home game. For a time, it was believed the game may be the team’s final game in Lewiston, period.

And that was the topic on the tip of most fans’ tongues all afternoon.

“I heard they have a deadline of tomorrow,” one fan said.

That’s not the case, of course.

“What’s taking so long?” was the most common refrain.

Even the players are awaiting an answer.

“It’s gotten to the point that, you know, whatever, just hurry up and tell us,” goalie Peter Delmas said. “I don’t even listen to the rumors anymore.”

Players and coaches circulated among the revelers until two hours before puck drop. Waves of Maineiacs’ skaters – aged 16-20 – signed sticks, shirts, programs and pucks. Coaches spoke with fans.

“It started in the parking lot tonight,” Lewiston coach Don MacAdam said. “It was really energizing to be around the fans. They love the team, they understand what this is all about and they love this level of hockey and the players.”

Inside, the noise began early, mostly in dissatisfaction with the officiating. But as the tension mounted, and as the Maineiacs slowly seized the momentum, the fervor escalated.

The players fought back to earn a point, despite losing 3-2 in a shoot-out. The point, and a Val d’Or loss, planted the team in the playoffs, beginning this weekend.

The support the team received from the people in the stands didn’t go unnoticed.

“They were supporting us even in the first period when we took eight penalties in a row,” Maineiacs’ forward Billy Lacasse said. “They never stopped being on our side.”

“It just reminded me of the passion and the spirit the fans have here, especially when I was 16 in the playoffs, the fourth round that year. I remember how loud it got, and it was like that (Sunday). It showed a lot of character out of them, too. It shows that they deserve us.”

The players skated to center ice following the game, circled the center zone and raised their sticks to the fans, who stood and applauded. Loudly. Nearly all 2,803 announced attendees had stayed to watch the puck come to a complete and final stop.

“That’s what I found when I came here,” MacAdam said, “a community that loves hockey. It’s a very tight community and they love the Maineiacs and they support their own, big time. … I don’t think the fans here would know how to give up.”

The team’s future remains uncertain. The Maineiacs are still entertaining a move to Fredericton, New Brunswick, which would involve sharing space and ice time with the UNB Varsity Reds. That conversation is essentially on hold due to UNB’s participation in the Canadian University national tournament, which concludes the final week of March.

The team and Colisee owner Jim Cain had no comment on the actual process Sunday.