|
VANCOUVER -- The Lewiston Maineiacs may have paid a big price for their opening win at the Memorial Cup.
Yesterday the QMJHL champions defeated the WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1, but saw their captain Mark-Andre Cliche leave the game early in the second period with an injury.
Cliche was taken into the boards by Tigers defenceman Trevor Glass and left the game holding his shoulder.
"He's at the hospital getting an x-ray," said Maineiacs head coach Clement Jodoin.
"I feel bad for him because when you come to a championship like this you want to see your best players be able to show what they can do.
"This is a show, this is show business and you want to see your best players get involved. I'll feel bad if he's out for the rest of the tournament.
"You work four years, you get drafted, you come to the pinnacle off his career so far with a chance to prove you can play against the best and you get hurt."
Cliche, was the New York Rangers' second-round pick - 56th overall - in the 2005 NHL Entry draft. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings this year as part of the deal that sent forward Sean Avery to New York. The six-foot-one, 189-pound native of Bellecombe, Que., scored 24 goals and added 30 assists in 52 games for the Maineiacs.
He was also a member of Canada's World Junior team.
"He's a great player and he brings a lot to our team," said Maineiacs goalie Jonathan Bernier, also property of the Kings. "Hopefully he'll be OK. But we'll see (today) what's going on with him."
