PORTLAND – Many of the teams at the Maine High School Hockey Invitational have never seen each other before.

And there is the likelihood that many of them will never meet again, either. But for the week after Christmas, hockey teams from all over Maine travel to Portland to face out-of-state opponents.

“This is such a great opportunity to play top level teams,” said Edward Little coach Jamie Belleau. “It gives our team a chance to see what else is out there, and it also gives teams from out of state a chance to see what we have up here in Maine, and for us specifically in the Lewiston-Auburn area.”

The tournament itself is in its third year and has seen growth from the beginning. In 2001, Gary Prolman, the tournament’s chairman, had 12 teams playing, mostly at the Portland Ice Arena. Last season, the number of teams jumped to 28, including teams from New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

On Tuesday, Lewiston High School faced off against the Algonquin Barons of North Bay, Ontario. The Barons, one of 32 teams in the tournament this season, and one of 14 from outside of Maine, edged the Blue Devils 3-2.

“It’s a 14 or so hour bus ride back home,” said Barons coach Dale Hewitt. “The people have been awesome here, very accommodating.”

Apparently, the teams have been accommodating, as well. The Barons played four games in two days, one at Biddeford Ice Arena and the other at Travis Roy Arena in Yarmouth Monday, and two on Tuesday at Portland Ice Arena. The Barons won all four of its games, beating teams from Greely (4-0), Lewiston (3-2), Scarborough (4-3) and Thornton Academy (4-1).

“It’s really just a great experience for the kids,” said Hewitt. “Many of the guys on my team had never even crossed the border, let alone play hockey here.”

Hewitt, on the other hand, is quite familiar with hockey in Maine, playing at Colby College and graduating in 1980.

“Initially I had called (Waterville High School head coach) Norm Gagne about a tournament in the Waterville area,” said Hewitt. “He said his was full, but referred me down here to Gary’s tournament. It was a long ride, but it was worth it.”

For local high school teams, the games are also a way to fill the schedule between Christmas and New Year’s, a period when there are few games and few opportunities to practice in game situations.

“Our requirement was to play out of state teams,” said Lewiston coach Tim Smith. “It’s a great way to get some solid competition against out-of-state teams without having to travel out of state.”

Lewiston played two games this week, a win against Berlin, N.H., and Tuesday’s loss to Algonquin. Edward Little also played two games, losing in overtime to Christian Brothers of New Jersey in what Prolman called “one of the best high school games I’ve seen in a while.” In the Red Eddies’ second game, a rematch of last year’s loss to Austin Prep in the same tournament, EL dropped another game in overtime, 6-5.

“It was a chance for everyone to see that teams from Maine can compete against the traditional known powers in New England and beyond,” said Belleau. “We’re looking for a level of consistency all season, and to have displayed that against these teams this week just helps us along.”

According to Prolman, more than 35 scouts from junior teams and top colleges across the region have appeared at the tournament looking for talent among the 32 high schools.

“Several Hockey East coaches have told me how impressed they are with the tournament,” said Prolman. “Almost every top team in Maine and several other end up here.”

Next year, according to Prolman, two teams from Japan and four more from Canada may join the party.

“I think a realistic number for next year is probably pretty close to 42 teams,” said Prolman. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the kids to be seen and potentially go somewhere.”

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