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Maine Mariners games postponed amid labor dispute between league, players union

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Maine Mariners games postponed amid labor dispute between league, players union


Maine Mariners players run a drill during practice in Portland on Dec. 10. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

Both Maine Mariners games in Portland scheduled for this weekend have been postponed amid a labor dispute between the hockey league and a players union.

Members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association announced earlier this week that players in the league were prepared to strike, accusing the ECHL of obstructing collective bargaining with unfair labor practices.

The strike notice became effective Friday, when games were scheduled to continue after a holiday break, according to the association, which represents players in the ECHL, formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League.

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The Cross Insurance Arena box office confirmed Friday afternoon that both Friday and Saturday’s games have been postponed and will be rescheduled.

The Mariners were set to play the Worcester Railers on Friday night and the Trois-Rivières Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The ECHL issued a statement Friday, saying the league had made its “last, best and final offer” to the players’ union Thursday. Any future offers by the league “likely will need to account for losses in revenue attributable to missed games from player strike,” the statement read.

The union said in its own statement that it had filed an unfair labor practice charge against the league after several months of bargaining.

“We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers,” Brian Ramsay, the executive director of the hockey players’ association, said in the statement Monday. “Our members have never been more united and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time.”

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The Mariners team social media account shared a statement from the ECHL in posts Friday that accused the union of forcing all players in the league to go on strike.

“This could also result in the postponement or rescheduling of additional games, and we will be in direct communication with our fans and supporters as soon as practicable if that is the case,” the statement read. “But know that we’re working to have a team on the ice for our next regularly scheduled home game.”

A reporter’s efforts to reach Michael Keeley, director of media relations and broadcasting for the Mariners, were unsuccessful Friday afternoon.

As of Friday, the Mariners are 11-8 on the season, with three overtime losses and one shootout loss, good for fifth place out of nine in the Eastern Conference’s North Division and 16th overall in the 30-team league.

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The ECHL is the third tier of North American professional hockey, below the NHL and the American Hockey League. Most ECHL teams serve as developmental teams for nearby NHL and AHL teams; the Mariners are affiliated with the Boston Bruins and their AHL team, the Providence Bruins.

This story will be updated.



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Maine

Tennessee forward & Maine native J.P. Estrella enters transfer portal

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Tennessee forward  & Maine native J.P. Estrella enters transfer portal


Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella, a Scarborough native and former South Portland standout, announced earlier today that he is entering the transfer portal.

Estrella shared the news in a social media post, writing that his time at Tennessee “means more to me than I can put into words” and that he’ll “cherish the time I spent there.”



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Maine

This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!

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This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!


This iconic spot is a “road-trip-worthy” Maine destination, but can you handle their newest addition?

Spring has sprung, which means plenty of people will take a well-deserved break from the daily grind and hit the open road. If you’re heading out to explore some cool Maine traditions—and you love lobster rolls—we’ve found the perfect stop.

The Taste of Maine restaurant has been serving up delicious seafood since 1978. They’re famous for a few things: a giant inflatable lobster that covers about 75% of the roof, and their claim to fame—the “World’s Largest Lobster Roll.”

These legendary lobster rolls are 22 inches long, and over the years, many customers have taken on the dare of finishing one. If you succeed, you earn membership in the “Clean Plate Club”—no easy feat given the size of this lobster roll.

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But this year, Taste of Maine has gone even bigger. Introducing the “Monster” Lobster Roll: 3 feet long, packed with 2½ pounds of fresh Maine lobster meat—tail, claw, and knuckle—all on a 6-inch roll. This colossal creation carries a price tag of $259.99.

Read More: Maine Amusement Park Reveals New Family Attraction For 2026

Located at 161 Main Street in Woolwich, Maine, Taste of Maine is now open for its 48th season.

One of the best things about Taste of Maine is watching people take on these enormous lobster rolls. Guests love filming themselves attempting to finish them, including a Guinness World Records titleholder for “World’s Largest Mouth Gape.”

Spring Hours:

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Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM

To see just how long Taste of Maine has been a local favorite, check out this classic TV commercial from the 1980s!

New Arcade in Brewer, Maine Opens This Month

Game on, Brewer! The arcade of your dreams is almost here. Get ready to press start!

Gallery Credit: Arlen Jameson

12 New Restaurants That Opened in Maine in February 2026

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

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Maine lawmakers should prioritize childcare

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Maine lawmakers should prioritize childcare



To the Editor;

Access to affordable child care plays a direct role in whether Maine families can work, pursue education, and maintain stability. The Child Care Affordability Program helps keep child care costs within reach for working families.

To the Editor;

Access to affordable child care plays a direct role in whether Maine families can work, pursue education, and maintain stability. The Child Care Affordability Program helps keep child care costs within reach for working families.

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At Penquis, we serve 270 children from 266 families across dozens of communities through our child development programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care. We see firsthand how access to child care determines whether parents can work, pursue education and build long-term stability for their families, particularly in communities facing workforce shortages and rising cost of living. 

Child care availability alone is not enough. We can have programs and facilities in place, but if care is not affordable, it remains out of reach for families who are already struggling.

Without it, the cost of child care places an unsustainable burden on Maine families, consuming as much as 29% to 39% of income for single-parent households and 10% to 13% for two-parent families. CCAP is one of the few tools that effectively addresses this challenge by ensuring child care costs are affordable, capping costs at 7% of income for those with the lowest incomes, and expanding access for many more families.

Investing in CCAP supports children’s healthy development, enables parents to participate in the workforce, and strengthens Maine’s economy. We urge state leaders to prioritize this $15 million investment in the supplemental budget and ensure that affordable child care is accessible to the families who need it most.

Kara Hay
president and chief executive officer

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Penquis

Bangor

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