The Maine Nordiques will not field a team for the 2026‑27 season, a decision confirmed by Tyler Giwerowski, the North American Hockey League director of hockey operations.
A Season on Hold
The franchise, a Tier‑II junior program in the NAHL, had called The Colisee in Lewiston home for six seasons before relocating last winter to the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn.
Owner Shift Sports and Entertainment said it could not reach a lease agreement with Mill Town Sports and Entertainment, the venue’s operator, after Mill Town president Nate Bostic cited an alarming number of unpaid bills and contracts as a decisive factor.
With the agreement collapsed, the Nordiques’ protected players were immediately released, allowing them to pursue opportunities as free agents across the hockey market.
During the most recent campaign the club posted a 32‑23‑2‑2 record and finished sixth in the East Division, underscoring the competitive standing they had achieved before the operational freeze.
The move leaves a vacancy in the league’s schedule and raises questions about the future of junior hockey in the region, but the players now have the freedom to sign with other clubs.