Lewiston Maineiacs to be dissolved after Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Purchases the team
An announcement by the commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Gilles Courteau, was made on Tuesday in Boucherville, Quebec, regarding the abolishment of the Lewiston Maineiacs team after the QMJHL bought them out, following a decision
by the league’s board of governors.
The decision was primarily made due to financial constraints which were not officially disclosed but were hinted at being the prime reason by the majority shareholder of the team, Mark Just.
He mentioned in a statement, "I am truly sad for Maineiacs fans. For those that supported the team over the past few years, I would like to thank you. Nonetheless, mounting financial losses became too much to bear for our ownership group."
He added in another statement that he was facing a number of debts and could not find the money to repay them which finally led him to making this decision.
It was later announced through a press release by the league that they will hold a dispersal draft to allow other QMJHL teams to pick up the nearly 50-man roster on the Maineiacs after they officially dissolve it.
There are a number of players on the now former Lewiston team, considered to be the top players of the league and should have no problems in being drafted.
2009 was a downfall year for Maineiacs as rumours spread about the team being shifted to another city in the Quebec province of Canada.
This caused fans turn up to drop sharply and over time declined the revenue generation which became insufficient to meet the team’s expenses which included player health care, immigration and travelling.
Maineiacs was on its peak level during 2007 when they won the Presidents’ Cup and was considered the top team in the league, but due to the downfall, they became the 16th ranked team out of a total 18 in the last two seasons.
Even though the rumours were false and unjust, permanent damage had been done to the team’s reputation which ultimately has led it to be dissolved.
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