Maine Nordiques (junior hockey)

This article is about the junior team known as the Maine Nordiques. For the former professional team with the same name, see Maine Nordiques. For the former NHL team, see Quebec Nordiques.

Maine Nordiques
City	Lewiston, Maine
League	North American Hockey League
Division	East
Founded	2019
Home arena	The Colisée[1]
Colors	Light blue, red, white
Owner(s)	Shift Sports and Entertainment
General manager	Nick Skerlick [2]
Head coach	Nick Skerlick
Franchise history
2019–present	Maine Nordiques

The Maine Nordiques are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's East Division. The Nordiques play their home games at world renowned Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.

History

On February 28, 2019, the North American Hockey League (NAHL) announced that they had approved the membership application submitted by ISS Kings Youth Hockey Club, LLC for a team in Lewiston, Maine, owned by Darryl Antonacci and that the team would start play in the 2019–20 season as a member of the East Division.^[3][4] The team shares the Androscoggin Bank Colisée and a development program with the Tier III Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques that has a team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The organization is named after the former professional team, the Maine Nordiques. Antonacci promoted his head coach from the ISS Kings youth team, Nolan Howe, son of Hall of Fame player Mark Howe, as the NAHL team's first head coach.^[5]

In March 2020, team owner Antonacci agreed to purchase the Androscoggin Bank Colisée and the Tier III Nordiques from the arena owner Jim Cain.^[6] As part of the turnover, Antonacci folded the Tier III junior team and replaced it with Tier 1 youth teams.^[7] Both leagues cancelled their 2019–20 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[8]

Nolan Howe was fired and replaced by associate head coach Matt Pinchevsky 16 games into the 2021–22 season.^[9]

Season-by-season records

Season	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA	Finish	Playoffs
2019–20	54	20	32	2	42	190	230	7th of 7, East Div. 21st of 26, NAHL	Postseason cancelled
2020–21	56	35	19	2	72	169	163	2nd of 6, East Div. 5th of 23, NAHL	Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. New Jersey Titans Won Div. Finals, 3–0 vs. Maryland Black Bears Lost Robertson Cup Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs
2021–22	60	22	27	11	55	200	243	6th of 7, East Div. 23rd of 29, NAHL	did not qualify for post season play
2022–23	60	33	24	3	69	208	188	3rd of 7, East Div. 11th of 29, NAHL	Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. New Jersey Titans, lost Div. Finals 1–3 vs. Maryland Black Bears
2023–24	60	37	17	6	80	236	178	2nd of 9 East Div. 9th of 32 NAHL	Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Rochester Jr. Americans, Lost Div. Finals, 2–3 vs. Maryland Black Bears

References

1. "MAINE NORDIQUES". TheColisee.com. March 14, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
2. "NAHL Coaching Staff". Maine Nordiques. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
3. "NAHL team in Lewiston, Maine approved for the 2019-20 season". NAHL. February 28, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
4. Fournier, Nathan (February 28, 2019). "Maine Nordiques, an NAHL Tier II team, coming to Lewiston". Sun Journal. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
5. Fournier, Nathan (March 25, 2019). "Maine Nordiques name Howe as first Head Coach". Sun Journal. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
6. "Androscoggin Bank Colisee to be sold to owner of Maine Nordiques". WGME-TV. March 14, 2020.
7. "Nordiques owner wants more high-end hockey, year-round events at the Colisee". Sun Journal. March 13, 2020.
8. "NAHL announces cancelation of entire 2019-20 season due to COVID-19". NAHL. March 17, 2020.
9. "Matt Pinchevsky replaces Nolan Howe as Maine Nordiques head coach". Sun Journal. November 9, 2021.

External links

• Maine Nordiques website
• NAHL website