Saturday, December 18, 2010

St. Dom's Grad John Racine Named MAINEiacs Goaltender Coach

Press Release

Maine Hockey Journal

Lewiston, ME (QMJHL) - The Lewiston MAINEiacs are pleased to announce the hiring of their new goaltending coach, John Racine.

John Racine has always had a passion for hockey and goaltending, beginning as a graduate of St. Dominic Regional High School. Three years after graduating, John became an on-ice official, and has since worked youth hockey games, high school hockey games, and QMJHL preseason games. Along with his officiating duties, Racine has also served as a goaltending coach for St. Dominic Regional High School, the IJHL's Maine Moose, and the University of New Hampshire's club team.

"I've always had a passion for helping goaltenders," Racine said. "I have been a goalie coach since 1988, and I wanted to coach at a higher level," he said.

Racine has been a fixture with the MAINEiacs' organization since the team began playing in Lewiston during the 2003-04 season. During that inaugural season, he and his wife Donna served as a billet family for the club, while John helped out as a practice goaltender from time to time, when one of the regular goaltenders was out of the lineup.

"It was important for us to find a coach that is local, as well as a person with some experience," said MAINEiacs Assistant General Manager Tim Schurman. "John is a great guy that is willing to do whatever he can to help our goaltenders get to the next level. Both goalies will benefit from having John arond to work with," he said.

John will look to help continue the strong goaltending factory in Lewiston that has produced the likes of current NHLers Jaroslav Halak and Jonathan Bernier. "The MAINEiacs have had a history of producing top goaltenders," said Racine. "The two goalie we have here now are very good, they have the potential to make it to the next level, and I'm here to help them along the way," he said.

This has been quite the stretch of time for Racine, who also received a call this morning from Dawn Strout - the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the United States Women's Olympic Hockey Team. Strout asked John to assist the program during the upcoming tryouts in Minnesota.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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