LEWISTON – Nick Cowan improved and provided inspiration. Alex Bourret led the team in points and had a rabid following. Sheldon Wenzel continued to be involved in the community, and Chad Denny proved that there is more to being a hockey player than just playing hockey.
These four players were among nine Lewiston Maineiacs receiving 11 different awards Tuesday at the team’s annual end-of-the-year awards banquet at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.
“I think this is good to thank the players,” said Maineiacs coach Clem Jodoin. “It’s a reward for the fans, too. It’s nice to give back to them. I am amazed there are so many people here tonight hooked up to the team, hooked up to the league, hooked up to the players. I am impressed. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It tells you that they love their hockey and they love their team. They love their hockey team.”
The awards dinner sold out as 327 people packed into the large dining room. Last year the event drew 250 fans.
For all of the injuries, bad penalties and tough losses the Maineiacs endured this season, there were an equal number of good moments.
Bourret stepped forward to receive the award for leading the team in scoring with 86 points. That number was also good for seventh in the league. Perhaps more important, though, was his second award of the night, as the fans’ choice award winner.
“It’s a great trophy, to get it from the fans,” said Bourret. “It says that they like me as a player. The fans are very good for the team, and their support helps us.”
Cowan also went home with two over-sized trophies, the first for being the Maineiacs’ most-improved player, and the second for winning a new award this year, the Pat Tillman Trophy for the team’s most inspirational player.
“There are a lot of things, where a choice had to be made,” said Jodoin. “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way, but I think we have a good group of kids this year. Everyone is important. Everyone means something.”
Wenzel repeated this season as the recipient of the community involvement award, while Jonathan Paiement, who was again among the league leaders in points by a defenseman, repeated as Maineiacs’ defenseman of the year.
In what had to be one of the tightest races of the night, rookie netminder Jonathan Bernier won the team’s rookie of the year award after posting solid numbers.
“I didn’t expect to see as many games as I did from the beginning,” said Bernier. “Clem had confidence in me, and I had confidence in myself because of that. It also helped to have a good No. 1 in front of me in Jaroslav Halak.”
Halak, meanwhile, received one of the biggest awards of the night, the Bernard Just Trophy as the most valuable member of the Maineiacs’ organization, which included more than 100 staff members and all 23 players.
Maxime Mathieu, overlooked by many people all season due in part to low point production, won the team’s unsung hero award, while Brandon Roach skated away with the team sportsmanship award.
Denny won the award for the best scholar-athlete, taking the place of since-departed Maxime Robert. Denny is also up for the league-wide scholarship award.
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