By Justin Pelletier,Staff Writer

CHICOUTIMI, Quebec — Draft day turned into moving day at the 2005 QMJHL Entry Draft at the Centre George Vezina.

The Lewiston Maineiacs, faced with just two picks in the first three rounds, were in the thick of the dealings, and acquired an extra first-round pick for their actions.

Kevin Marshall (ninth overall) and Patrick Cusack (12th) became the newest members of the Maineiacs in the first round Saturday. Both players are 16-year-old defensemen that, according to Jodoin, “are tough, physical players.”

“Marshall, we know he is already tough,” said Jodoin. “Cusack, we know he will grow and he is only going to get bigger and stronger. We needed to get some defensemen, and that’s what we did with the first round.”

In order to move up and select Cusack in Round 1, the team traded leading scorer Alex Bourret to the Shawinigan Cataractes, but also received in return forward Stefano Giliati.

“The whole table, everyone was happy after that move,” said Jodoin. “Everyone really thought that was the best move.”

The two first-rounders, meanwhile, both still showed signs of shock as they met the team’s staff for the first time.

“I had butterflies in my stomach all morning,” said Marshall. “I was anxious, but after meeting last night with (Jodoin), I feel this is a good organization for me. It will be a good fit.”

Marshall is a stay-at-home defenseman, known in his previous league for physical play, and was slated by Central Scouting to be picked No. 13 overall.

“I like to go into the corners and hit people,” said Marshall. “I was okay to start the draft, really,” said Marshall, “but after the fifth or sixth name, I started to really get more nervous.”

Surprise was the word for Cusack, who wasn’t slated to go until Round 3.

“They told me last night at the meetings that if they could make a deal to move Bourret, I was on their list high,” said Cusack.. “I didn’t really think I would go in the first round, though.”

Cusack, too, described himself as a defensive defenseman.

“I will fight hard and play where I am asked,” said Cusack.

The addition of the two new defensemen makes the Maineiacs deep on the blue line. Brandon Roach and Jonathan Paiement are still listed on the Maineiacs’ roster as 20-year-olds, while Chad Denny and Michal Korenko are only 18 and Sebastien Piche is just 17.

FORWARD THINKING

Defense was priority No. 1, but Lewiston turned quickly to the forward lines with its next few picks and trades. Stefano Giliati, an 18-year-old power forward, came from Shawinigan in the Bourret deal. In the third round the team took David Taylor, a 5-foot-9, 172-pound, 16-year-old center. After trading their fourth-round pick to Gatineau for 18-year-old defenseman Francis Gagnon and two picks, the Maineiacs used the first of two picks in Round 5 to grab Rob McCarthy of St. Mary’s High School in Massachusetts. McCarthy is a small forward, listed at 5-foot-9 and 165. With its second pick in the fifth round, Lewiston picked 17-year-old Jonathan Paquet, another winger with size (5-feet, 11-inches, 200 pounds).

“Everything fell into place,” said Jodoin of the first five rounds. “Everything went just right. We are all very happy about that. We addressed our needs very well, and now we can look at goaltending.”

One Maineiacs’ scout went as far to say that he believes that every player acquired in the first five rounds has a legitimate shot to make the team in the Fall.

Meanwhile, true to his word following the fifth round, Lewiston picked netminders in the eighth and 12th rounds, as well a bevy of new forwards.

Lewiston picked three more American players: Tom Michalik of Massachusetts, in the seventh round, Stephen Bergin in the 11th, plays for the Junior Bruins in Massachusetts, and Barry Almeida of the New England Junior Falcons in the final round.