AUBURN — A local hockey franchise is seeking to have a judge dismiss a complaint filed last month by the team’s former coach.

A lawyer for the Lewiston Maineiacs Hockey Club LLC answered the complaint of Donald J. MacAdam of Lewiston in Androscoggin County Superior Court.

In it, the Maineiacs deny having fired MacAdam without cause.

MacAdam claimed that the club broke a three-year contract with him signed in April, making him coach and president.

The Maineiacs fired MacAdam on Dec. 10 after the team racked up 15 consecutive losses. After an 8- record at the start, the team eventually fell to 16th place out of 18 teams in the league.

In his complaint, MacAdam wrote that his contract required that the club give him severance pay if it were to tell him to leave before the end of that three-year period, unless it had “cause” to fire him.

The Maineiacs, according to MacAdam, allege that he failed, among other things, to arrange team players in the line combinations and defense pairings directed by company officials, including Maineiacs CEO Mark Just.

In its response, the franchise alleges that MacAdam was fired for “cause,” including refusing to play team members in those combinations.

But a lawyer for the Maineiacs denied in court papers that MacAdam’s alleged “cause” for his termination was “false” or failed to meet the definition of “cause” as defined by the contract.

The Maineiacs also denied that the contract required the club to provide MacAdam with severance pay in the event that the club were to terminate the contract without cause prior to the end of the three-year period.

MacAdam is seeking damages, including loss of income, as well as the cost of the lawsuit and reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.

The club cites several lines of defense, including: MacAdam failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted and that he breached the terms of his agreement with the club, excusing performance by the club.

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