Maine Hockey Journal

The New Era Begins

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Moncton, NB– The Maineiacs welcomed 12 new additions into the organization in Saturday’s QMJHL Entry Draft. They had four picks in the top-40. Earlier on, they looked to reload at the forward position as three of their first four picks were attackers.

Francis Beauvillier who played for College Antoine-Girouard in the Quebec MAAA league wwas Lewiston’s first pick, 3rd overall. The 5’11, 165 pound center, had 16 goals and 20 assists last year. This is the scouting report according the QMJHL Central Scouting:

“Beauvillier is projected as someone who has the potential to be an explosive player in the QMJHL. His skating and acceleration are first rate, he has an excellent shot, he’s good in the corners and he likes to drive the net. He needs to improve his vision of the play and his consistency.”

With their second selection of first round, with the 11th pick, they chose Jean François Plante from Magog Cantonniers, which is also out of the MAAA. The 5’11, 182 pound center, accumalated 14 goals and 18 assists in 42 games. Here’s the skinny on Plante:

“Plante has good offensive instincts and the potential to be a prolific goal scorer in the QMJHL. He has decent size, an elite shot and he’s a good skater. He needs to work on his defensive game and his consistency.”

In the second round, Lewiston addressed the goaltending spot with the 27th selection. They took 6’3 Jordan Kennedy from the Cape Breton Trades of the Nova Scotia Major Midget League. In 18 games, he had a 3.91 goals-against-average.

With the 39th pick in the third round, the Maineiacs grabbed the 24th rated skater by Central Scouting, Samuel Henley, a 6’1 winger.. With Abitibi Filons in the Midget Espoir, he notched 21 goals and 33 assists in 38 games.

The fourth round saw Lewiston take offensive defenseman Stephen Woodworth of the Valley Wildcats of the Nova Scotia Major Midget League. The 5’11 defenseman had two goals and five assists in 25 games this past season.

Lewiston had to wait until the six round to make their next selection by grabbing winger Julien Houle with the 93rd pick. The 5’8 forward had 21 goals and 18 assists in 41 matches.

The seventh round saw Lewiston select Mathieu Brisebois with the 109th selection and Alex Lépine with the 111th pick. Brisebois played with Beauvillier at College Antoine-Girouard. The 5’10 centerman notched 7 goals and 21 assists in 38 contests. Lepine played for College Esther-Blondin where he totaled four goals and five assists in 38 games. Also in the seventh round, Lewiston selected Derek Henderson out of Tabor Academy in Massachusetts.

In the 8th round, Lewiston looked in their own backyard and selected goaltender Tyler Piercy out of North Yarmouth Academy. He’s from Fredericton, New Brunswick.

The ninth round saw another winger selected. Luke Dillman, who’s 5’9, played for Cole Harbour of the Nova Scotia Major Midget League. In 24 games, he had 15 goals and 11 assists.

In the tenth round, Lewiston grabbed their third goaltender of the day. Charles Grant also of the Valley Wildcats, had 4.59 goals-against-average in 22 games.

In the 11th round, the Maineiacs went back to Massachusetts and selected Connor Brickley of Belmont Hill. If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because his uncle is Andy Brickley, a former Boston Bruin and the current color analysis for NESN on Bruins telecasts. Connor is committed to Vermont for 2011.

The twelveth round saw Lewiston select Marc-Antoine Rousseau out of College of Notre Dame.

More Trades

Lewiston also made a few trades. The big one sent Zach Phillips, their 2008 2nd rounder, a fifth round selection in 2009 to Saint John for a 2010 2nd and 4th round selection Phillips, who spent last season with Lawrence Academy, had 19 goals and 28 assists in 30 games. He committed to UMass-Amherst this spring for either the 2011 or 2012 campaign. Right now he’s either going to play for the Boston Junior Bruins of the Eastern Junior Hockey League or for the Waterloo Blackhawks of USHL. That could all change with the trade.

A fifth rounder was also sent Lewiston’s way but the 73rd selection was traded to Victoriaville for no compensation. Lewiston made another seperate deal with Victoriaville for the Tigres 4th rounder (58th overall/Stephen Woodward . Lewiston sent their 5th rounder (74th overall) to the Tigres.

In the second round, Lewiston dropped down to the 27th pick (Jordan Kennedy) by trading the 21st selection to Acadie-Bathurst. In addition to receiving the 27th pick, Lewiston picked up a fifth rounder for next year’s draft.

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