Huard turning into a Maineiac

Nick Huard watches his former teammates Saturday night at West Ferris arena sporting a brand new Lewiston Maineiacs hat. Photo by Chris Dawson.

North Bay's Nick Huard is learning that life in Major Junior hockey can be a humbling experience.

The North Bay Trappers graduate was traded today from the Victoriaville Tigres to the Lewiston Maineiacs in an exchange of 17-year-olds with Maineiacs defenceman Pierre-Luc Pelletier going to the Tigres in exchange for Huard.

The trade is positive news for the Huard. For about six months the Maineiacs had been talking with the Huard family and Nick was all set to join the Maine QMJHL club this fall but had to go through the waiver process first where he was plucked off the waiver wire by the Tigres.

Apparently, Huard, who finished with 34 goals and 29 assists in 34 regular season games with the Trappers last year, caught the eye of Tigres scouts while attending a pair of summer prospect camps in Eastern Canada hosted by the University of New Brunswick.

“Our scouts saw him this summer in Montreal and what we like is his passion for the game and we want to build our team with players who are passionate about game. We also like his playmaking ability and his ability to set up plays,” said Tigres head coach Yannick Jean about Huard in August.

However, the Tigres experience didn't pan out as Huard only registered 1 goal and 1 assist in 20 regular season games and was a healthy scratch on some nights.

Huard will enjoy the next few days in North Bay, skating with some friends and even taking to the ice as a guest coach with the Peewee 'AAA' Trappers Monday night, before joining his new club next weekend when they take on his old team in his new home in Lewiston, Maine.