Where are they?

I hear that more often than I can count at every home game. I’ll take a walk down to the concourse to say hello to some folks, and inevitably I hear, “Hey, do you know where (insert player here) is playing now?”

Consider this your update.

Remember, I only have so much space, though, so if I miss one of your former favorites, feel free to let me know, and I’ll do my best to track him down.

Now, before I get going, there will be some obvious players missing. Players like Marc-Andre Cliche (Manchester), Pierre-Luc Faubert (Elmira) and Chad Denny (Gwinnett) who are “recent graduates” have been in the news enough lately.

• Francis Trudel – The Maineiacs’ first captain, and one of the most easy-going players you’ll ever meet, Trudel left Lewiston after the first season. He played three seasons for the University of Moncton, gathering 34 points in 75 games as a defenseman.

• Karl Fournier – The fruits of the Maineiacs’ first trade, he came to Lewiston in January of 2004 and stayed through the end of that season. Following his stint here, Fournier also played for three seasons at the University of Moncton. He scored 97 points in 76 games, and this season is playing for the Weiden Blue Devils in Germany.

• Gabriel Balasescu – He left after his 20-year-old season in Lewiston and went to play for the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres. He spent one season there, then played for the St. Hyacinthe Cristal of the North American Hockey League. Last season, he was with Quebec RadioX in that same league.

• Vladislav Balaz – One of the two first European players to skate for the Maineiacs, Balaz was a key piece of the offense in 2003-04. The following year, he went to play for Dukla Trencin in Slovakia, and he has since disappeared from the hockey radar.

• Richard Steklik – Played his final season in the QMJHL for Lewiston in 2003-04 as a 19-year-old. A hulking defenseman, Stehlik’s position with the Nashville Predators (who owned his rights) was hurt with the NHL strike. He returned to Europe to play, and this year has reemerged in North America with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He has one goal so far this season.

• Sheldon Wenzel – One of the most beloved former Maineiacs, Wenzel still holds the record for most penalty minutes in a Lewiston uniform. He had a knack for scoring big goals, too, and loved the spotlight on the ice. Wenzel endured a tough injury last season while playing for the Memphis Riverkings of the CHL. This year, the pride of Brooks, Alberta, is still with the Riverkings, though in Mississippi now. He has one assist and 65 penalty minutes.

• Nick Cowan – Another favorite in his two years on the team, Cowan earned the nickname “Cowboy,” both for his name, and for his hometown of Hartney, Manitoba. Cowan played for two seasons with the University of Manitoba in Alberta, racking up 207 penalty minutes.

• Travis Mealy – The “other” Western Canadian, Mealy was a solid presence on the blue line. He was shipped out to Rouyn-Noranda in the deal that landed Sebastien Piche in Lewiston. From there, he was traded to Prince Edward Island. He fell in love with the place and attended the University of Prince Edward Island.

• Ryan Murphy – After being scooped up by the Saint John Sea Dogs, Murphy landed last season at St. Thomas University.

• Brandon Roach – A captain with Lewiston briefly, Roach left the Maineiacs after the 2004-05 season and landed at Acadia University. This season, Roach has seven points in 17 games with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

There are many more players who have gone on to bigger and better things, and perhaps they will be fodder for a future list.

For now, this ought to satisfy you … I hope.