The comparisons are inevitable, even if they are slightly misguided.

As the Lewiston Maineiacs head into the 2008 Presidents Cup playoffs this season, there is an urge to compare this year’s edition of the Maineiacs to the team that skated on the ice at the

Androscoggin Bank Colisee less than 365 days ago. All season, people have done that.

But you can’t.

The very setup of the league makes it impossible to base one team on that of a previous season. The core consideration behind the successful operation of a major junior hockey franchise is the players. They are, ultimately, kids. The QMJHL, OHL and WHL are nothing more than hockey-centered boarding schools with several different branches. In addition to “classes” and hands-on experience in hockey, players take a variety of core courses in other areas, including math, science and languages.

These players are ultimately on loan to the community, allowed by their families to pursue the ultimate dream of playing professional hockey.

The fans are privileged to have a chance to see the process unfold before them, and one can argue that the success of an organization like the Lewiston Maineiacs isn’t necessarily measured by the number of wins in the standings, or by the amount of money pouring (or trickling) into its bank account.

Rather, to measure the success of this, or any other major junior hockey program, you have to look at the alumni.

On the hockey side of things, former players are still forging their existence in several top hockey leagues across the globe. This year alone, three players from last year’s team are full-time ECHL players, with each having had a taste of the American Hockey League. Two have played four or more games in the National Hockey League, two are playing professional hockey in Europe and still another pair are enjoying the college life in Canada.

Not bad for a team that also won 16 out of 17 playoff games and earned a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.

The rest of the team’s history is just as colorful, and just as rich in success stories.

Two former Maineiacs play in the NHL, seven have seen action in the AHL, six are full time in the ECHL, three play in the CHL and another three have played in Europe. Still nine others have gone on to play in college while earning a degree.

This is after only four years’ worth of players, some of whom are still on the team.

With the playoffs looming, it’s easy to compare the 2006-07 version of the Maineiacs to this year’s squad. Going from first to fifth, after losing nine impact players for various reasons, seems almost par for the course.

There is still hope that the team, as it stands, could make a decent run through the playoffs. The team’s collective GAA in its last 12 games is 2.08. Jonathan Bernier’s personal GAA in that time is 1.67.

The team’s problem isn’t a lack of defense.

If the Maineiacs can shore up their offense in the next week, there isn’t a single team in the Eastern Division that will want to face Lewiston in this year’s playoffs.

But no matter how far this year’s Maineiacs push into the playoffs, the organization’s success, at least with this group, is yet to be determined.

Talk to me about that in another five years.