This season six new rookies are joining the Maine Timber as trees, finding a place in the forest to put down their roots and flourish. What kind of trees, you ask?

Edouard Lavoie joins the forest as an ash tree, representing the very heart of a new line formed by himself, Mia Lavoie, and JJ Frankie JJ. A strong and sturdy player, Edouard is ready to put the weight of the line on his shoulders at center ice and does everything he can to help his team to success both on and off the ice. Just 4 games into the season, Lavoie has already put up 5 points helping his team to the top of the standings.

Mia Lavoie, a small but determined left winger from Beauceville, Quebec, joins the forest as a yellow birch. Not only is this tree the official tree of her home province, but it represents her love for forests and further serves as a symbol of growth. With any luck, Mia's determination to grow and improve alongside her friends and linemates in Maine will result in a showing on the ice that rivals the beautiful gold leaves and trunk of the yellow birch in autumn.

Jean-Jacques Francois Jacques-Jean, known to his friends as JJ-Frankie-JJ, joins the forest as an evergreen tree. While he might look a little tough and prickly on the outside, JJ-Frankie-JJ is as big a softie team player as they come. He's tall, strong, and stands strongly in support of the rest of the team, as has already been demonstrated by his 8 assists in this season's opening games. Or it could just be that we're approaching Christmas and he wants to flex and show off those big beautiful boughs.

Jonesy Fortnite joins the forest as a Japanese cherry tree, as the young center from Prague has been known for making beautiful but deadly plays on the ice. Anyone that has met Fortnite so far knows they they have a serene sense of calm and quiet about them, but make no mistake. This player will strike fear in the hearts of goalies when they make their break, especially as the season goes on and they really find their rhythm.

Shotty McStopper, the tenacious new goalie from Dublin, joins the forest as a weeping willow tree. McStopper is a hulking and enduring player with a high degree of flexibility, allowing him to stop anything that comes his way even in the most challenging conditions. In the rare event a puck does get past him or he's able to score a rare goalie goal, McStopper isn't afraid to show his emotions. While some teams might be embarrassed by their goalie weeping on the ice in the middle of a game, Maine welcomes his passion in net.

Last but certainly not least, Benji Hockiwi joins the forest as a kiwi bird. You're probably thinking "what, that's not a tree!" and you're right. I suppose that makes my article a little bit misleading. But let's be honest - every forest needs a creature, and there's no one better to represent Benji than themselves, a kiwi bird. Hockiwi's thick skin, speed, and uncanny sense of smell gives Maine a unique sense of depth at center ice, and we all look forward to seeing how they produce.