LEWISTON – Lewiston Maineiacs coach and general manager Clem Jodoin had a clear and simple message for the players that survived the first round of cuts and skated at practice Monday morning.

“It’s not over yet,” said Jodoin. “Now we start to teach them.”

The Lewiston Maineiacs have wrapped up phase one of their 2004 training camp and have made a preliminary round of cuts, but the camp itself, and the trials the athletes are going to face between now and the end of the season, are just beginning.

“The talent pool is smaller now,” said Jodoin. “The players here are the best of what we had here for camp, and we are going to work hard with all of them and see who will learn well, who can be taught.”

On the ice Monday, Jodoin had to stop practice several times, barking commands at the players as they skated hard through drills.

“They got to play a little more over the weekend,” said Jodoin. “Now they will show us by working hard.”

“Every day is meaningful,” said 20-year-old returning defenseman Bobby Gates, one of three American-born players remaining in camp. “Every practice you have to go out there and give (Jodoin) a reason to keep you. Otherwise, he has every reason to drop you.”

And there will be plenty of practice time this week. The team practiced in the morning Monday before heading off on a fun trip in the afternoon. Tuesday and Thursday, the team will practice on the ice twice.

“We will have different things to focus on at each practice,” said Jodoin. “We are going to work hard on Tuesday and Thursday, only one practice on Wednesday, and then the weekend and the games will be here.”

Jodoin said he will meet individually with each player as the week goes along, making sure to tell all of them where they stand, and making sure they know their options.

“They know we will be cutting again,” said Jodoin. “They know they have to work hard for those spots that are left.”

The projected team will include 14 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders for a total of 24. A second round of cuts is expected by the end of the coming weekend.