Twin City Times- Thursday, June 18th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #91
The last half of the Lewiston MAINEiacs season this year appeared to be the closing of a book that had been written by this organization that is part of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. This team of 16-20 year old young men who have dreams of playing in the National Hockey League was hovering around the cellar of their division. Attendance was down in an economy that was sliding quickly and the enthusiasm that had been there the years prior seemed to be lost.
The front office appeared to only be interested in the bottom line and nothing else. Marketing the team beyond the borders of L-A appeared to be non-existent in spite of the urging from an advisory board to market in other hockey towns within a 50 minute drive area. The organization had lost character, something that isn’t gained overnight. It
requires determination, commitment and genuine application. It truly has to be sincere. All of that was lost.
With all that had occurred above, the organization and in particular the principal owner, Mark Just blamed the lack of support from local hockey fans as the problem. He made some very disparaging comments in the media that were truly vitriolic and most unbecoming of a principal owner who had benefited greatly from the support of fans by their attendance at games, thousands of volunteer hours, and outstanding support from city hall in the investment of millions of tax dollars to provide a high quality venue for his team to play in.
Matt McKnight, the team president and governor at the time and Just searched for a new home and announced publicly that they were leaving Lewiston for greener pastures. There wasn’t even a courtesy call to me, the mayor of the city, to inform us that they were leaving. This in my opinion was another demonstration of lack of character after the city had spent the millions of tax dollars in support of the organization.
The fans were mad, city officials were mad. I was mad. My wife and I have been season ticket holders since day one. I had said to myself that should they come back, I will not renew my season tickets. With all of this, they burnt a major bridge. When those plans fell apart and they couldn’t find a new home, they had to return and attempt to cross the bridge they had burnt.
All of that ended a chapter in the MAINEiacs organization except for one point that I will address later. Mr.Just went searching for a new coach. He found one in the person of Don MacAdam who came highly recommended because of his many years of experience of having played professionally, coached professional teams such as having been an assistant coach of the Detroit Red Wings and the owner of an East Coast Hockey League Team in Dayton, Ohio.
This man has already demonstrated character in so many ways. He assessed the team and decided to make changes where necessary. I first noticed his outreach to the fans when during the skills competition towards the end of the season, he was moving around in the stands and talking with the fans. I started hearing that Coach MacAdam was attending Mass at various parishes in this predominantly Catholic community. My wife and I ran into him on Easter Sunday as he was arriving for Mass at St. Patrick’s Church.
After meeting him, he asked to meet with me knowing that I am the mayor and a staunch hockey fan. I picked him up at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée and I took him on a short tour of downtown on our way to Willie Beans for coffee and conversation. While in the car, I mentioned that I have been hearing that you’ve been attending Mass regularly. He answered by saying “if I didn’t go, I’d have to answer to my 87 year old mother.” A man who listens to his mother has to have character!
It also has become increasingly clear to me that Don MacAdam is a people person. A people person is one who cares about people regardless of their economic standing, educational ability or any other factor. They are people who serve from the heart. It is clearly obvious that MacAdam has his heart in the right place. As the new president of the organization and coach of the team, these characteristics will serve him well.
He has hired a new General Manager and Head Scout in the name of Roger Shannon. Shannon is a former member of the Canadian RCMP and is currently a police officer with the Fredericton New Brunswick Police Department. I met him at a press conference at the end of the season. His son will be playing for the MAINEiacs. Shannon spoke that night about the team that they will be putting together. He said: “This team will have CHARACTER.” In talking with him, I found that he is a firm believer in the Community Oriented Policing Philosophy, which means working in partnership with citizens. So, this team will be working in partnership with the fans. I am firmly convinced of that.
MacAdam and Shannon are very pleased with the draft that took place last week in Moncton, NB. They are filled with enthusiasm and it is becoming contagious. I am now as anxious for next season as I was awaiting the first one.
MacAdam has involved himself and his staff with the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce. He was the keynote speaker last week at the Business to Business Trade Show Breakfast with some 350 people in attendance. He said he will be buying a home here, now there’s a show of commitment. He talked about a number of activities that the team will involve themselves with the fans. He talked about church nights “pucks and prayers,” scout nights, barbecues, focus groups listening to fans. He also talked about developing corporate partnerships versus corporate sponsorship. This will bring customers to businesses.
The coach also talked about the partnership working with the Jim & Judy Cain family who own the Colisée under the name Firland Management. This family is another one with outstanding character and genuine care for their customers. The MAINEiacs & Firland Management will share front office staff in partnership. MacAdam summed up his comments by saying we want to have fun!
Team President MacAdam ended his talk with a comment about the slogan & logo “L-A IT’S HAPPENING HERE,” and said his staff had come up with a slogan “WE LIKE IT HERE” to go along with the L-A slogan. The staff all had the slogan printed and on black T-shirts that they wore all day at the trade show.
In order for an organization to truly demonstrate character, it has to start at the very top. With the new MAINEiacs, character has been well demonstrated from the team president on down. That isn’t quite the top. The top is the principal owner Mark Just who I believe still should express a major “mea culpa” to the fans and the city that has served him so well in the first chapter. Mark, your letter to the season ticket holders didn’t quite do it. Remember, you burnt a bridge that you must now cross. We are prepared to repair it and we must do it together. You sincerely express a “mea maxima culpa” and a sincere demonstration of CHARACTER and we will give you absolution! Together we will start the new chapter in the Lewiston MAINEiacs book!
By the way, on our part, my wife and I have renewed our season tickets and we are encouraging others to do the same. With a new start, together we can bring home the President’s Cup where it rightly needs to preside in the hockey town of Lewiston, Maine.
