LEWISTON – Maxime Gratchev just wants to win.

“My main goal is, I want to win,” Gratchev said. “I want to get this team to the playoffs and go as far as we can.”

Gratchev, a 20-year-old sniper from Russia, via Massachusetts, arrived at the Lewiston Maineiacs’ training camp Saturday, ready to do whatever he could to help the team get off the ground this season.

“I want the pressure,” Gratchev said. “I want to be a go-to guy every night, and I’m ready for it.”

Gratchev was born in Russia, and moved to Massachusetts when he was five years old. He played hockey in the Bay State growing up, and in 2004 Patrick Roy and the Quebec Remparts scooped him up in the QMJHL Entry Draft. After a year and a half, the Remparts traded Gratchev to Rimouski. There, Gratchev had one very productive season, earning 77 points in 70 games.

“There were a lot of good players (in Rimouski), some good coaches and I really enjoyed it,” Gratchev said.

Last year, though, he suffered a pair of injuries.

“It was a tough season for me,” Gratchev said. “I learned a lot mentally. First of all, I had a stress fracture in my foot. I came back for seven or so game, and then separated my shoulder and was out again for a while.”

By the end of the season, though, Gratchev had played in 39 games and accumulated 29 points.

The chance to play closer to home also appealed to Gratchev, who will now play his home games a scant two hours from where he grew up.

Gratchev was not in uniform for the scrimmage Saturday night, but will suit up Sunday in practice and may play Monday in the team’s first home exhibition game.

Bring in the brawn

Speaking of camp arrivals, Brett Gallant arrived Saturday during the intrasquad game, a few hours later than he expected.

But at least he was here.

“It was a late trade,” Gallant said. “I had to get it in my mind that it was time to play hockey again. I’m ready and I came down to play.”

Gallant was wavering on his decision to arrive in Lewiston due to family considerations, but in the end decided to appear and make a go of it with the Maineiacs.

Gallant has the most combined penalty minutes of any player over the past two seasons in the QMJHL, and is also expected to hold one of the three 20-year-old positions with the Maineiacs this season.

An original Saint John Sea Dog, Gallant already has plenty of memories playing at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

“I remember all the fans here being loud and into the games,” Gallant said. “I like that.”

Game speed

With a new format Saturday night, and with more urgency thanks to a shortened camp, the skaters came out to play at the Andrscoggin Bank Colisee.

For the first time this year, skaters were divided into two teams and the players battled through three 20-minute, stop-time periods.

The only major deviation Saturday was the penalty format, which forced the player committing an infraction to play one-against-three for 30 seconds.

That happened only three times, though Saturday night fans saw their first fight of the camp, with Simon Bissonnette squaring off against Dany Coulombe. Bissonnette landed more punches, while Coulombe earned the takedown.

For the record, Team President defeated Team Memorial 8-7 in the first true intrasquad game.

Going home

A few players bid adieu to camp Saturday night.

Zack Phillips, Justin Stevens, P.J. Moore, Travis Moore and Matt Sollows played in their final practices and game Saturday, electing to leave camp to preserve their NCAA eligibility. The rest of the major cuts will happen Monday or Tuesday, following the first pair of exhibition games.