Making Waves: Francois Brassard

Maine Mariners

Francois Brassard is a well-known and fan-favorite goaltender of the Maine Mariners and has had a great season thus far. Brassard has skated in three seasons with the Mariners (2018-19, 2019-20, and 2022-23). In the 20-21 season and 21-22 seasons, Brassard skated in games with the Wheeling Nailers, the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL, and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

Maine Mariners - Francois Brassard roster photograph
Maine Mariners

Brassard started his career as a Maine Mariner in their inaugural season in 2018-19 when hockey finally returned to Portland, ME. He played in six games that season, a fraction of what his fellow goaltenders [Connor LaCouvee (20), Brandon Halverson (30), and Hannu Toivonen (9)]. He almost doubled his games played the following season, bringing him up to 14. LaCouvee had stuck around that season and played in 36, and Adam Huska played in 3. In games that I saw Brassard skate in, it was clear to me that he had some incredible talent, and I hoped to see him stick around in seasons going forward.

Unfortunately, the 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the time came for the 2020-21 season and the entire Northern Division of the ECHL withdrew, I was a little melancholy. I wondered about the players’ careers and knew we would probably see them go elsewhere. As previously stated, Brassard did end up playing with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, skating in 9 games that season. The following season, he played with the Jacksonville Icemen for 31 games and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL for three games. 

Francois Brassard - Maine Mariners
Maine Mariners

Brassard returned to the Mariners this season and has skated in 23 games, in which he’s shut out the opposing team twice. Once against the Trois-Rivieres Lions at the Colisee Videotron on February 11, 2023, and once against the Worcester Railers just recently on March 5th.

In the game against Trois-Rivieres, he stopped a total of 41 shots to blank the Lions. Brassard was a key factor in the success of the team that evening, especially in the second period, where he made 14 saves. He went on to stop another 16 in the third period, denying the Lions any chance of getting on the board. In the game against the Railers on March 5th, Brassard stepped up once again and stopped all 27 shots made on the goal to pitch his second shutout of the season.

In a rare moment earlier in the season, Brassard scored a ‘goalie goal,’ becoming the first goaltender to score a goal in Maine Mariners history. The team was playing on the road against the Adirondack Thunder, and they wanted to hold onto their two-goal lead in the third period. That is when the puck ended up with Brassard, and he ripped a shot at the empty net and scored with 19.5 seconds left in the game; The puck moved too fast for the Thunder to catch up. Francois Brassard has had an incredible season this year, and I look forward to seeing what else he might be able to accomplish in the remaining games.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Megan Bonti

Hello! My name is Megan, and I am a staff writer here at Inside the Rink, assigned to cover the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. I have extensive experience in film and photography, but I also love to write. Previously I have also worked as a public speaker bringing awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and sewing. I live in the midcoast area of Maine with my significant other, with a baby on the way.

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Anthony Beauregard Staying with Trois-Rivières Lions

The Trois-Rivières Lions continue to stay active as they’ve announced their second signing in two days as Anthony Beauregard in returning for his fourth seasons with the Lions. This comes a day after the Lions re-signed their captain, Morgan Adams-Moisan. Beauregard, 29, put up 25 goals and 42 assists for 67 points in 67 games […]

Read More

ECHL: David Warsofsky Named South Carolina Stingray Head Coach

The South Carolina Stingrays have announced David Warsofsky as their new Head Coach, marking the team’s third coaching change since 2022. The news comes as a surprise to many, especially after the Stingrays’ historic 2024 season under Jared Nightingale. Nightingale not only led the team to win the Brabham Cup but also helped the Stingrays […]

Read More
Brady Martin 2025 Draft Profile

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Brady Martin

The Scouting Report: Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds is a very intriguing prospect in this year’s draft, and recently has been climbing the rankings at a quick pace. Many teams in the front half of the first round are showing interest in the forward, who scored 72 points in 57 games played. Martin is […]

Read More