LEWISTON – Mark Just is happy, and when the owner of the team starts to smile, the rest of the organization feels the effects.

“This is great,” Just said before Friday night’s home-opener against Acadie-Bathurst. “Look at this place. It’s fresh, it’s clean, and the people are all ready to watch hockey.”

The biggest thing, according to Just, is having a team of people nine in place to make things run smoothly.

“Between Matt (McKnight, the team’s vice president and governor), Clem (Jodoin, the team’s coach) and the whole front office staff, it makes my life a whole lot easier.”

Looking at the front end of the Colisee, Just was even more impressed, despite the fact that work will continue on the arena through at least December.

“I think everyone knows it is a different situation that last year,” said Just. “You come up Birch Street and see the structure, it’s just so impressive, to know what it will eventually be. And to know that this is going to be done four days early, this is even better news.”

Rancourt sings anthem

Rene Rancourt, known across the region as the vibrant anthem singer for the Boston Bruins, returned to his native Lewiston on Friday to sing the Canadian and American national anthems in front of a sold-out Colisee crowd.

Rancourt normally sings the anthem before every Bruins’ home game, and his trademark fist-pump following the American anthem is a well-recognized and well-liked touch.

On Friday, he did not disappoint the crowd at the Colisee, getting an ovation as he clenched his fist and ran off the ice, signaling the start of the game.

All wet

With 1:15 elapsed in the second period, referee Nicolas Dutil stopped play at the first opportunity and sent both teams to their benches. The reason?

Water.

After the Zamboni finished making ice following the first period, the players took the ice and tried to start playing the second period, but several players lost the puck when the rubber disk caught a puddle of water and stopped dead on the ice, leaving the players to overskate it and stop awkwardly.

Rather than risk injury, Dutil stopped play.

Bailey hurt

Derek Bailey was hauled down on a scoring chance near the Acadie-Bathurst net midway through the game and never returned, leaving Lewiston a player short. Following the game, Bailey was walking around outside the locker room with a temporary splint or cast on his right arm.

His status is unknown.