The much anticipated arrival of an NAHL franchise in Lewiston Maine is on hold for at least one more year.
Citing a lack of time to organize for the 2015-2016 season, Jim Cain and NA3EHL Fighting Spirit owner Rod Simmons have decided to pull their application for a North American Hockey League franchise.
Their ownership application was initially approved over a month ago by the NAHL, but with a lack of returning players, an incomplete staff, and the recruiting season already in full swing, they believed it would be better to wait.
Simmons also implied that the NAHL may have lost focus, or may have been trying to do too much in setting up eastern expansion this season. That league energies being focused on other start up, or relocations may have contributed to the decision to not move forward this year in Maine.
Lewiston will use the 2015-2016 season to operate the NA3EHL Fighting Spirit franchise and prepare to re-submit their NAHL application for the 2016-2017 season.
THJN will update this story as more information becomes available.
