The two Lewiston- and Auburn-based junior hockey teams are in wait-and-see mode regarding their schedules for the upcoming days.
With the ongoing manhunt for Robert Card, a suspect in Wednesday’s mass shooting in Lewiston, and the shelter-in-place order for Androscoggin County still in effect, the Maine Nordiques of Lewiston and the Twin City Thunder of Auburn are unsure if they will play their scheduled games this weekend.
The Nordiques of the North American Hockey League are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Rebels in Sewell, New Jersey, on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Thunder of the USPHL’s NCDC have a game slated for Saturday at 5:10 p.m. against Junior Bruins in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
“As long this man is not captured, we won’t be leaving,” Nordiques general manager and coach Nick Skerlick said. “We are already looking for alternative options for Philadelphia to extend the weekend, but it’s all going to come down to what we feel the community needs more than anything.”
Skerlick said he has been on the phone with Nordiques ownership and NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld several times Thursday, with both looking for updates on the situation.
NAHL posted to X/Twitter on Wednesday night about the Lewiston shootings:
“The #NAHL is saddened and sickened by tonight’s events in one of our own cities… Lewiston, Maine. We can report that all @MaineNordiques players and coaches are safe and accounted for, but there are others who have been affected. Please keep everyone in your thoughts.”
Skerlick said if the shelter-in-place is lifted and there are no alternative options with the Rebels’ organization, the latest the Nordiques will need to leave Lewiston is 9 a.m. Friday. They planned to leave Thursday at 9 a.m. before the shelter-in-place took effect Wednesday night.
Skerlick said he wants to reschedule Tuesday’s home game with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings.
Twin City Thunder owner and coach Dan Hodge, who reported that all players and staff are accounted for, said he’s unsure what the options are for Saturday’s game if the shelter-in-place is still in effect.
FORMER MAINEIACS’ MESSAGES
Players and staff members of one of Lewiston’s former junior teams, the Lewiston Maineiacs, which played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2003-11, shared their thoughts on the ongoing tragedy in Androscoggin County.
David Perron, who led the Maineiacs in scoring during their 2006-07 President Cup-winning season and currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings shared this on X/Twitter Wednesday night: “Prayers to the people of Lewiston, ME! This place is dear to my heart and I am heartbroken to hear whats going on there right now!”
Jordan Kennedy, a Maineiacs goalie during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, shared this on Facebook on Thursday morning: “Thinking of my friends in Lewiston this morning.. Prayers”
Roger Shannon, the Maineiacs general manager from 2009-11, took to Facebook on Wednesday.
“Praying for all my friends in Lewiston Maine tonight,” he wrote.
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