LEWISTON – Wearing a light blue shirt bearing his name in marker across his broad shoulders and a pair of gym shorts, Marc-Andre Cliche steadied himself, crouched slightly and made a standing leap to a platform two feet from the floor. The next step was downward, and then he returned to the floor, ready for another repetition.

Sweat dripped from his brow and his shirt was soaked through, but he was still smiling, having a good time and joking with his friend and linemate from last season, Mathieu Aubin.

“It’s a lot better this year,” said Cliche in English almost too good for a player who spoke virtually none at this time last season. “I am more confident this year. I am not a rookie anymore.”

At 17, Cliche is younger than many of this year’s rookies at the Lewiston Maineiacs’ training camp, but his experience stemming from last season as a 16-year-old rookie will almost certainly prove invaluable.

“I am a veteran now, Cliche said matter-of-factly. “It is a little weird being a veteran at 17, but I was here last year and have played in a lot of games, so I know more what to do now.”

“A lot of games” may be an understatement, especially for a 16-year-old.

Last year, Cliche played in 52 games, posting eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points, playing mostly on a line with Aubin and departed Maineiacs forward Pierre-Luc Faubert. In the playoffs he scored another goal and had two more assists in seven games.

“We like his work ethic,” said Maineiacs coach Clem Jodoin. “He plays well at both ends of the ice, and he wants to learn. He is obviously more mature than the rest of the 17-year-olds in camp, and it is to his advantage.”

As far as a specific role for Cliche, or for any other player, Jodoin has not yet started to think about it, preferring to first set his team (through Thursday there were still 27 players on the roster) before assigning roles to players.

Cliche, however, has his own personal goals.

“I think for me I need to show more offense this year,” said Cliche, who was highly regarded as a strong two-way player last season. “I cannot forget about defense, because you cannot be a good offensive player without playing well on defense.”

Cliche had to sit out a few intersquad games and the first two preseason tilts against Drummondville thanks to an injury that he tried to keep secret during training camp.

“I was hurt a little, and I thought I would be O.K,” said Cliche. “It is hard to sit in the stands and watch practice, wanting to be out there playing.”

Cliche returned to the ice on Tuesday against Moncton, and according to the coaching staff that made the trip, he played well at both ends of the ice.

He is expected to take the ice on Friday against Shawinigan in the team’s final home preseason game at Kennebec Ice Arena in Hallowell, where he will be joined by a smattering of returning players.

“I just want to help the team,” said Cliche. “I want to make the playoffs and win there. Whatever the team asks me to do, that is what I will do.”