By Justin Pelletier,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Will the Lewiston Maineiacs make a trade? Possibly, but right now, nothing is done.

This is the message from management as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League trade period saw its first full day of action Monday.

“At 8:30 (Sunday night), you might have started to see some deals go, you might start to see the phones burning up or whatever, but right now, nothing is happening here,” said Maineiacs’ assistant coach and assistant general manager Ed Harding. “Serge (David, the team’s head scout) and Alain Lafontaine were here, and we had a meeting (Sunday) morning. They wanted to see the game and make sure we’re on the same page. It’s going well so far.”

Several Maineiacs’ players have kept an eye on the rumors, but they all acknowledge that whatever happens, it’s out of their hands.

“I really can’t do anything,” said Lewiston defenseman Jonathan Paiement, who is the subject of trade rumors for the second year in a row. “The coaches are the ones who make that choice. If this was my last game, I want to thank all of the people who support the Lewiston Maineiacs, and I hope you continue to do that. I hope to be here, but it’s not my decision.”

After last Friday’s game, both Mathieu Aubin and Brandon Roach also expressed their desire to stay in Lewiston.

Olivier Legault, who, as an NHL-drafted 19-year-old forward with grit, may have some trade value, also expressed his desire to stay, but with one small condition.

“I’ll go wherever I need to go,” said Legault. “I’m good here, the only thing I want is ice time. If I get it, I’ll play here, that’s what I want.”

Trades begin elsewhere

Nine trades had been confirmed Monday night, including two trades involving former Lewiston Maineiacs.

Travis Mealy, who expressed concern Sunday after his Rouyn-Noranda Huskies lost to the Maineiacs, found out Monday that he was traded to the P.E.I. Rocket, along with the Huskies’ eighth-round pick in the 2006 draft and their fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft for 17-year-old skater Michael Dubuc.

P.E.I. was the busiest team on Day 1. The Rocket also shipped Yanick Charron, a 19-year-old forward, to Drummondville for a sixth-round pick next year, and sent their first pick in the 2006 European draft and their fourth pick in 2006 to Victoriaville for the rights to Chad Locke and two draft picks.

Geoff Walker and Adam MacArthur headed from Gatineau to the Rocket in exchange for Alexandre Boivin and a sixth-round pick in 2006, capping a busy first day for P.E.I.

Chicoutimi and Rimouski completed a trade that strengthens the Sagueneens. Through a series of three deals, the Sags acquired defenseman Patrick Coulombe, forward Jean-Sebastien Cote, goaltender Philippe Roberge and Rimouski’s second-round pick at the 2006 draft. In return, Rimouski received 17-year-old Maxime Tanguay and three 2006 draft picks, the highest of which is the third round.

Rimouski also dealt with Drummondville, sending Jean-Michel Bolduc to the Voltigeurs for their first-round selection next year.

Acadie-Bathurst sent Marc-Andre Dorion, Alex Lamontagne and a sixth-round pick to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in exchange for goaltender Loic Lacasse, Jonathan Duchesneau, Alexandre Dulac-Lemelin and three draft picks, including a 2006 first-round pick.

Bathurst then flipped Lacasse to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for another former Maineiac, Maxime Joyal. Joyal was property of the Voltigeurs after leaving the Quebec Remparts earlier this season and demanding a trade. A pair of picks also exchanged hands in that deal.

One other minor deal saw Luc Melanson head to the Saint John Sea Dogs from Shawinigan for a sixth rounder.

Solid debut

Alex Hager made his Lewiston Maineiacs debut Sunday against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and played a few shifts on the team’s fourth line.

He came close to scoring his first career goal on an Olivier Legault rebound in the first period.

“It’s going to take some time for him to adjust a little bit,” said Harding. “His role will go up further as he plays more. It’s his first game, he has to get acclimated to this league a little bit and we’ll see what happens.

“We have to have competition amongst our forwards. If we only have 12 forwards, sometimes those guys take those easy parking spaces. Now guys know Alex Hager is here breathing down their necks, so guys are going to have to play harder and play better.”

As for Hager, the speed of the game was his biggest adjustment.

“The thing about here is that everybody is on the same page,” said Hager. “Everybody’s in the gym, working hard, practicing hard, home for curfew. I haven’t worked out like this since my junior year in high school. I come here, I’m riding a stationary bike every day, almost 20 miles every day. I like the team, the atmosphere and I like it here so far.”