Doris Makas, Maineiacs Matriarch

By Sarah Alto

Doris Makas has yet to decide on her favorite Maineiacs player, now that Eric Bonawitz is playing for the Woodstock Slammers, but she has already been to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee to scout this year’s team. Doris, as she plainly likes to be known, is the eldest Maineiacs season ticket holder. She also has a commanding shot at being the eldest season ticket holder in both the QMJHL and the entire CHL. After all she did celebrate her 100th birthday during the off-season.

Dressing in warm layers that include her Maineiacs sweatshirt, Doris sits with her daughter, Elaine Makas, directly behind the home bench. From there she checks on players between shifts and occasionally beats the referees to a call. In one instance, Doris saw former defenseman Chad Denny commit a penalty, and before the ref had blown his whistle, had time to lament “Oh! Chad shouldn’t have done that!” Elaine explains “She just loved Chad Denny.”

Doris is quick to set the record straight regarding her hockey sense. She never played hockey while growing up on Cape Cod. She was instead a basketball player and proudly, captain of her team. Her love of sport transferred naturally to Maineiacs games, where Doris enjoys getting out in the community, spending time with her daughter, and saying hello to the many people greeting her at the rink.

When Elaine leaves her seat, Doris always has someone – a fan or player – sitting in it by the time she comes back. Last season goaltender Jordan Kennedy took time to talk about a mutual tie to Cape Breton. During preseason this year, Eric Bonawitz remembered Doris’ connection to him as a fellow redhead by ruffling his hair and waving hello. Doris denies that being a natural redhead equates to being a rowdy fan. She cheers during the game, and while she doesn’t mind the physical aspects of hockey, she will not be found banging the glass behind the bench.

And about Maineiacs head coach JF Houle? Well, his hair isn’t red, but on the day Doris and JF met, “His hair stood up straight, like he’d just gotten out of the pool,” and she quickly compliments the spiky hairstyle, adding “I like it that way.”

Doris is glad to have her season tickets again this year and brushes off her age and celebrity status. “Somehow it just happens,” she quips. As for season predictions from this true fanatic, Doris enthusiastically asserts “They’re going to win! It’s a good team!”