Calling it complicated and unique, Lewiston Maineiacs’ coach and general manager Ed Harding said the organization is ready for Thursday’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.

All that remains to be seen is if “ready” translates into “lucky.”

“It’s a completely different and difficult situation,” Harding said.

Difficult, Harding said, because most teams selecting players in the draft have never seen the players skate in person.

“We’re relying on scouting services, on NHL scouts and on agents,” Harding said. “This is what we’ve been focusing on for two or three months now, since the season ended.”

Last year, the Maineiacs selected Boston Bruins’ draft pick Denis Reul, a towering German defenseman, with their only selection. They already had Slovakian forward Jakub Bundil on the roster. This year, while the team again officially has two picks, Harding said he expects Reul to return, and to only have to use one pick again, leaving the possibility for a trade for the team’s second selection.

The 60 teams of the Canadian Hockey League will rotate picks through two rounds, though many teams choose not to select two players. This year, the Ontario Hockey League will select first, followed by the QMJHL, and then the Western Hockey League. Lewiston holds the 10th QMJHL pick, No. 29 overall.

Last weekend, Harding attended the NHL Draft, hoping to establish a connection with an NHL team that may have selected a foreign-born player who would want him to develop in Lewiston, much like the team did last year with Reul and the Bruins.

“I interviewed a couple of players up there with their agents,” Harding said. “I spoke with a few NHL guys. (Reul) last year was on our short list, and we were able to work things out with the Bruins. There are things like that in action right now, too.”

For some bigger-market teams, money can be a powerful and persuasive tool in bringing a European player to the CHL.

“A lot of kids are under contract with their men’s club teams,” Harding said. “For a team here to get them over here, they usually have to pay a pretty stiff fee, and that hurts franchises like the Lewiston Maineiacs.”

As for what kind of player Harding is looking for, his answer was pretty simple: “Whatever will improve this hockey team going forward, whether it’s a defenseman or a forward, we’d look in that direction.”

Lewiston will make their selection between 2:10 and 2:20 p.m. Thursday.