LEWISTON – Help, it appears, is on the way for the Lewiston Maineiacs’ goaltending corps.

Adrien Lemay, who played this season for the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey league, will join the Lewiston Maineiacs this weekend in Quebec, according to a report published on the Hawks’ Web site Friday.

“He’s been a real backbone for us since we acquired him early this season,” Nipawin coach Colin O’Hara said in a phone interview Friday. “He was our go-to guy.”

Maineiacs’ coach and GM Ed Harding acknowledged Friday that a deal was in the works to acquire a free agent goaltender, but he didn’t want to confirm the player by name until all of the paperwork had been approved by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

“We have some things in the works now,” Harding said. “That’s going to happen very soon.”

In 19 games for Nipawin this season, Lemay was 11-8 with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

“He’s seen a lot of shots,” O’Hara said. “He’s really quick down low, and his rebound control for this level is phenomenal. He came in and provided some stability at that position for us, and we hope he’ll do the same for Lewiston.”

Lemay also dressed in one game for the Quebec Remparts in 2006-07 before traveling west to play for the Battelfords North Stars of the SJHL, from whom the Hawks acquired him early this season.

The Maineiacs have done well in the shots allowed department. In 40 games, Lewiston has allowed an average of 28.1 shots per game, and in 17 of those 40 games, the Maineiacs have allowed 25 or fewer shots.

But they are just 6-11 in those games, and they’ve lost all six games in which they’ve allowed 20 or fewer.

“We’ve got to do something,” Harding said. “I’m so happy with the way our guys have played. When you’re only giving up 18 shots and 21 shots, you have to be ecstatic. If our save percentage can come higher, we’re going to start winning some hockey games. You’ve got to have an .890 to a .900 save percentage at least. If you don’t, you’re going to lose a lot of hockey games.”

In another short-term move, the Maineiacs have recalled forward Marc-Andre L’Hereault for one game to fill the roster spot vacated this weekend by Max Gratchev. Gratchev received an automatic one-game suspension after being called for a spearing penalty in Tuesday’s loss to Gatineau.

“He’s been playing well in AAA up there,” Harding said. “He’s got some grit and he’s got some speed, he can skate. I’m not afraid to put him out there tomorrow.”

Lewiston will also still be without forward Matt Bourdeau (upper body injury) on Saturday night. Gratchev, the team’s leading scorer, will be back in the lineup Sunday at home against Saint John.