LEWISTON – Maineiacs’ majority owner Mark Just is back in town for another training camp and so far, he likes what he sees.

“We made some positive steps last year for sure,” said Just. “In fact, honestly, I think the kids that were here last year deserved a better fate than they got, but now we have to move on to a new year, a better year we hope.”

According to Just, the change he made in the organization over the summer (the hiring of Clem Jodoin as head coach and general manager) have already started to impact the on-ice product, even though it is just two days into training camp.

“Look at the players,” said Just. “I’m very happy with the general atmosphere, and there is a confidence about them, about the players. I think that the players, especially those coming back, realize that we’ve put together a staff that will help them become better players.”

As for which players will make the squad, Just admits that he has his favorites, and that there is a certain kind of player he is looking for, but he also realizes that new head coach and general manager Clem Jodoin is responsible for evaluating that talent.

“I defer to Clem,” Just said. “That is his department. I can tell him what I like, but the reason I hired him is to do that job and do it well.”

Still, Just has his opinions.

“There are some good players out there that won’t make this team,” said Just. “Some are veterans and some are rookies. The camp is so deep we are going to have to take the kids that show they want to be here, the kids with the right attitude.

“I want players with grit and passion,” Just continued. “We’ve found a lot of those kids through the draft and through inviting them, and I think this is a great time to be optimistic. Really, though, if you can’t be optimistic in August, when can you be?

“The way this is going, there is potential, I think, to sell as many as 2,000 season tickets by the end of this season,” Just added. “I think this team has so much potential, and we don’t even have all of the guys here yet. (Alexandre) Picard is still not here, (Jonathan) Paiement is still in Calgary and the two Slovakian players haven’t come over yet. This is going to be a good team, and I think people will appreciate that.”