We hear it over and over again: These hockey players are still kids.

Of course they are. The average age of players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is about 18.

Well, at 18 years old, in most school-based societies, there is a letter grading system in place to hold students – and teachers – accountable for learning.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has reached the end of its first semester already, about a month ahead of traditional schools.

Now, it’s time to hand out the report card to the Lewiston Maineiacs.

Offense (C-): With just 110 goals scored on the season, the Maineiacs rank just 11th among the league’s 18 teams. We knew the team would take a dip in goals scored this season after losing Stefano Giliati and Stefan Chaput. Max Gratchev has helped, certainly, and Billy Lacasse’s goal-scoring prowess has emerged ahead of schedule, which has helped soothe the crash landing a bit. Marc Bourgeois has nearly hit double digits, too, and Danick Paquette has the touch, when he’s not in the box.

But guys like Lucas Labelle, Matt Bourdeau, Dominic Savoie and Alex Beaton, veterans all, need to be more productive if this team is going to pull itself out of the divisional basement.

Defense (C): This should have been the strength of this team. On paper, the Lewiston Maineiacs began the season with one of the top three defensive corps in the league. Four 19-year-old skaters, plus a top draft pick, plus one of the best 17-year-old defensemen in the CHL, plus one 20-year-old with Memorial Cup experience.

That 20-year-old player didn’t stick, the four 19-year-olds have been both solid and porous, depending on which day it is, and the two younger players are, well, young.

There is a chance this defensive group looks different after the mid-season trade period, which could bring about the changes it needs. In recent weeks, improvement has been noted, with a steady average decrease in the shots-against statistic. But at this point, it’s a bit too little, too late.

Goaltending (C-): This grade is this high (yes, a C- is high) thanks to the solid play of Philip Wright. A late invite to training camp, Wright has been solid in each of his seven starts. He’s earned five wins in those seven starts, allowing 16 goals for a 2.27 GAA. Save percentage has also been Wright’s forte this season. In his seven starts, Wright has allowed those 16 goals on 172 shots, good for a .907 save percentage.

Peter Delmas, on the other hand, has been out of sorts this season. In spurts, he’s been solid, but in the overall picture, he’s just 6-18 in 24 starts this season, carrying a 4.42 GAA and a .851 save percentage. He’s a better goalie than these numbers indicate, but he needs to believe that going forward.

Special teams (C-): This, too, could have been a whole lot worse, if not for the dramatic improvement in the Maineiacs’ penalty kill in recent weeks. Four weeks ago, this would have been an ‘F,’ no question. But in the team’s five games previous to Saturday, the PK units have allowed just three goals on 35 opposing chances. The system is finally working as the players continue to buy into it.

The power play, on the other hand, has not come around. There’s far too much individualistic play, and if this grade is going to improve by the end of the season, that has to change.