Fewer than three weeks after returning to the Lewiston Maineiacs from the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins, Lewiston Maineiacs’ athletic therapist Tom Bourdon was again on the move, though this time only temporarily.

Bourdon, a native of Adams, Mass., is entering his sixth year with the Maineiacs, his first since leaving the team in 2008 for a similar job with Providence. This summer, he was tabbed with another honor: He is the athletic trainer for Team USA at the annual Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament in Piestany, Slovakia, which began Tuesday.

“We are very excited about the opportunity Tom has been given,” Maineiacs’ president and coach Don MacAdam said. “This honor says a lot about his abilities, and we are proud to have Tom working with our players and team next season.”

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and will make for a great experience for me both personally and professionally,” Bourdon said.

The tournament is also known as the U-18 Junior World Cup. The annual event has been hosted in Slovakia since 1997, and showcases draft eligible players from all over the world. This year’s tournament ends Saturday. Team USA last won the gold medal in 2003.

Partners in hockey

The Lewiston Maineiacs and Auburn Youth Hockey have entered into a unique partnership.

Maineiacs players will be at many of the youth clubs’ practices throughout the year and team coaches will be on hand to help develop the youth coaches through comprehensive on- and off-ice coaching clinics.

“Our goal is to improve the game of hockey for everyone who plays in Lewiston-Auburn. This relationship is the first step in a monumental rebuilding process for the Maineiacs and hockey in the L-A area,” MacAdam said. “Someday, we would like to see a Maineiacs roster with kids that we have developed right here in Lewiston-Auburn. This is an important beginning to seeing that goal realized.”

As an additional benefit, and perhaps the most unique aspect of the program, all Auburn Youth Hockey members will become season ticket holders

Clinics and camps

The first of what the Maineiacs hope will be several opportunities for young players in the Central Maine region to skate with coaches and players from the team in a teaching setting gets under way this week.

Beginning Sunday, the Maineiacs will partner with Central Maine Community College for the first camp of the season. The camp runs for five days, and includes on-ice and video sessions with Maineiacs’ coaches and players, as well as off-ice training instruction and lunch in the Shipyard Lounge.

“We want to connect with the youth hockey kids in this area, because one day, these could be our future players,” Maineiacs’ assistant coach Jamie Dumont said. “We want to create a buzz where these kids are living and breathing Maineiac hockey and having the kids be lifelong fans, and not only fans, but one day play here for this team.”

This week’s clinic still has spots available, Dumont said, and is just the tip of the iceberg.

“We’d like to reach out to all of the hockey pockets, whether it’s the high school kids, the junior high kids or squirts. We want those kids to develop and have a potential future here.” 

Fore!

The Lewiston Maineiacs’ Education Foundation golf tournament will tee off for the sixth consecutive year. This year’s edition takes place at Turner Highlands Country Club in Turner on Monday, Sept. 21, with a dinner to follow at the course’s Fore Seasons restaurant.

Players and coaches are expected to host the event, and golfers will again have the option of buying shots from players, challenge players to putting contests, and try their best to outdrive team members.

For more information about the tournament, those interested can contact Ernie Gagne at 786-3242.

The Maineiacs’ home schedule begins Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19.

Copy the Story Link