LEWISTON – Friends off the ice become enemies on the ice all the time in hockey.
As the overtime period started in Sunday’s game at the Colisee, Lewiston Maineiacs forward Mathieu Aubin and Shawinigan’s Alex Bourret, last year the Maineiacs’ leading scorer, jawed at each other.
“He had slashed me on my knee at the end of the game, and I told him not to do that again,” said Aubin.
Twenty minutes later, moments after the Cataractes had scored twice on five chances to win Sunday’s game in a shootout, the two players were back in street clothes. Both were anxious to greet one another in the hallway.
“He was one of my good buddies last year,” said Aubin. “He came to my billets last night to eat. He is on the other team, but he is still my friend. On the ice, we don’t have friends, but off the ice, it’s O.K.”
Bourret, who was voted the fans’ favorite player last season, drew a light round of applause when he was announced to start the game.
“I was nervous in the first period,” admitted Bourret. “After that, I just started to play my game.”
His game, much like last season, was to set up a speedy forward for a goal. Instead of Alexandre Picard, though, this year it’s Benoit Mondou.
“It was give-and-go,” said Bourret. “It’s like Picard and me last year. He’s a good player, a fast player. I was able to get the puck to him, and he was able to shoot on net and score.”
The goal gave Shawinigan a 2-1 edge at the time.
In the shootout, Bourret again got the better of his old team.
Before taking his shot, Bourret looked over at the Lewiston bench and winked.
“It was the first time I scored in a shootout this year,” said Bourret.
Despite some early rumblings between Bourret and Shawinigan coach Denis Francoeur upon Bourret’s return from Atlanta Thrashers camp, the speedy forward seems to have settled in.
“I was very tired after camp,” said Bourret. “I had a big talk with the coach, and now everything is O.K. I play my game, and now everything is good.”
As for another return to Lewiston, Bourret didn’t rule it out, though it won’t be with the rest of the team.
“It’s fun to be back here,” said Bourret. “I am going to come once this summer, I think, to see some of the guys.”
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