HALLOWELL – It was as though the Drummondville Voltigeurs were a 19-man interrogation team, asking the Lewiston Maineiacs for skill, endurance and grit.

Above the rink and behind a pane of glass, as if supervising the interrogation, coach and general manager Clem Jodoin and head scout Serge David watched intently, arms crossed, watching every move from the remaining players on the roster.

“We were looking at the overall game,” said Jodoin. “There are little systems established, but we got to see how the young kids reacted when they have to play at another level.”

The players responded with sharp answers – quick shots, hard checks and, to the delight of the near-sellout crowd, a win over the Voltigeurs.

Ryan Murphy scored two goals and Olivier Legault had three assists as the Maineiacs skated past the Voltigeurs 5-2. Brandon Verge and Travis Fullerton split time in net and each allowed one goal in 30 minutes of action.

The real winner, however, may have been the coaching staff, who saw how some of their “bubble” players performed against real QMJHL competition.

“We will meet later and discuss about the team,” Jodoin said. “We will make the best decision possible based on what we have seen.”

Some of the younger players were anxious, knowing that the game may have been the only chance they had to prove their worth.

“I was a little nervous on the first shift,” said 17-year-old rookie Eric Castonguay. “You have to make a good first impression in a game like this, and after a while I calmed down.”

Others seemed to feel right at home.

“It is a big jump from last year,” said Pierre-Luc Champagne, 16. “But I was pretty much focused on my job. It is still hockey.”

For the veterans, it was a chance to show leadership and to prove that they, too, deserved to come back. There are still 14 19- and 20-year-olds on the Maineiacs’ roster, and Jodoin has said that there will be a large cut from that group.

“I knew I needed to have a big game,” said Murphy. “I had a lot of ice time tonight and I did what I could with that chance. There is nothing guaranteed.”

Verge and Fullerton shared goaltending duties for Lewiston. Goalies Jaroslav Halak, Jean-Michel Perron and Jonathan Bernier were not in uniform Friday.

“With so many goalies, it will be hard to make the team,” said Fullerton, whom Jodoin praised after the game as having a “great” third period.

“There is no room for error out there,” said Fullerton.

Murphy made a solid case with two goals and Legault added three assists, while Michal Korenko played well defensively.

Auburn’s Colby Gilbert helped his cause with a goal in the second period and an assist in the third after a slow start.

“It is such a different type of game,” said Gilbert. “Knowing I have so much to prove, I was a little nervous out there at the beginning.”

The team plays its second exhibition game Sunday in Drummondville. After another game on the road – in Moncton on Tuesday – the team returns to the Kennebec Ice Arena for an exhibition game Friday against Shawinigan.

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