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Lewiston native selected by Armada in QMJHL

(PHOTO: Russ Dillingham/Lewiston Sun Journal)

(PHOTO: Russ Dillingham/Lewiston Sun Journal)

LEWISTON – Patrick DeBlois remembers watching the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when the Lewiston Maineiacs skated at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Now the Lewiston native will have an opportunity to make his own mark in the league.

The Quebec Major Junior League held its annual draft Saturday in Sherbrooke, Quebec and when the dust settled DeBlois found himself drafted by Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Selected in the 13th round by the Armada, DeBlois played last season with the Portland Junior Pirates U18 midget team of the United States Premier Hockey League. He becomes the first Lewiston native to be selected by a QMJHL team since 2010 when Connor Anthoine was drafted by the Maineiacs in the ninth round.

“It feels good,” Patrick DeBlois said. “I still have to make the team, but it feels good knowing that I was drafted into the league.

Ironically, DeBlois’ selection comes on the third anniversary of the Maineiacs’ demise. Back in 2011, the team was sold back to the league, who promptly folded franchise, ending an eight-year run with the city of Lewiston.

DeBlois, who grew up watching major junior hockey and the Maineiacs, said he appreciates the effort of what it will take to make the team when he attends training camp in August.

“It was always fun as a kid going to those (games) because it was something to look forward to because it was such a high level of hockey,” DeBlois said. “When I was growing up, I didn’t think it was a real possibility at that time. Now since it’s a possibility, it opens up a lot of options. I understand the environment because of the Maineiacs and watching them. I feel I understand the league more than most people because I grew up around it all my life.”

He found out a few weeks ago that the team was interested in drafting him after getting a call from Armada head coach Jean-Francois Houle, who was the Maineiacs head coach when the team disbanded.

DeBlois said before the phone call he never met Houle personally.

After three years with the Lewiston High School Blue Devils, DeBlois joined the Portland Junior Pirates full season midget team where he had two goals and five assists in 26 games. He also played ten games with the Junior Pirates’ USPHL Elite team where he had two assists.

“It improved me a lot,” DeBlois said of going to the Junior Pirates organization. “I mean high school was fun with friends and everything. Playing for a coach like Jeff Tory helped a lot because he’s a great coach. Every day the practices were at a higher level then high school. I feel that helped a lot as it brought my game to a new level.”

If he doesn’t make the Armada he will return to the Junior Pirates with their Elite team for next season.

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Maine recruit drafted in the NAHL

Mitch Fossier, a 2015 Maine recruit, went 19th overall to the Janesville Jets. The 5-foot-8 forward had 31 goals and 57 assists in 56 games with the TPH Thunder U18 of the Tier I Elite League. He was also drafted last year in the eighth round by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL.

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