LEWISTON – The captain couldn’t stay away for long.

Francis Trudel, last year’s captain, is joining forces this weekend with three local college players to teach children the basics of hockey as part of a four-day youth clinic associated with this year’s training camp.

“It’s good to be back here in Lewiston on the ice,” said Trudel, who has visited regularly since last season ended.

The solid defenseman played in 296 games over four years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, all with the Sherbrooke/Lewiston franchise, and had 35 goals and 155 assists for 190 points.

Joining Trudel as instructors at camp this weekend are Joe Dumais of Auburn, Steve Roop of Lewiston and Jamie Gilbert, also of Lewiston.

Dumais will play his junior season at Quinnipiac University this year. Roop will be a sophomore at Elmira and Gilbert will start his freshman year at the University of Massachusetts in three weeks.

All three of the local instructors played for St. Dom’s and won back-to-back state titles with the Saints in 1999 and 2000.

“It’s just great to come back and help the kids out,” Gilbert said. “It’s great to see so much interest.”

End of the line

The end of training camp came quickly for at least two local invitees on Friday.

Nate Frechette of Winthrop and Tyler Martin of Lisbon were informed in a meeting late Friday night that “their games are more suited to aspire to NCAA competition,” according to Frechette.

“They had a meeting with us and told us the situation after 48 hours,” said Frechette.

According to NCAA rules, any player that participates in a QMJHL tryout past 48 hours loses a year of eligibility.

Frechette and Martin met separately with coaches, as did Colby Gilbert and Kirk Bolduc. There was no late word on either Gilbert or Bolduc, and whether or not they have decided to continue on with the training camp. Gilbert and Bolduc continue to impress onlookers and coaches alike with their physical play and ability to skate with the rest of the team. The general consensus is that the two players, Bolduc a former Lewiston skater and Gilbert a former Edward Little standout, stand the best chance to make the squad, providing they choose to continue through the camp and risk losing college eligibility.

Familiar voices

As Gilbert skated in a four-on-four game on Thursday night, a familiar voice pierced the air telling him to get off the ice – that of Edward Little coach Jamie Belleau.

Local coaches are being used for the second year in a row to help the Maineiacs’ coaching staff get a better idea of how the team is playing. The temporary coaches, which also include Lewiston coach Tim Smith, are able to make line changes from the bench while assistants Jeff Guay and Ed Harding, along with Head Coach and General Manager Clem Jodoin sit in the stands and evaluate the players.

Who’s that player?

On Thursday, players were divided into four teams and given jerseys: Orange, blue, white and gray. On Friday, those same players were given different jerseys and split into three teams, meaning that just as fans got used to seeing a player with a certain number, they were switched.

The switch enabled some of the Maineiacs to match their jersey to the number on their helmet, which had been nearly impossible the previous night. Still, players like Olivier Legault, who wore No. 91 last year, couldn’t find a jersey with a number to match. Others, like Sheldon Wenzel (No. 12) had no trouble at all.