LEWISTON – Lewiston Demons and Lewiston Ice Dawgs are merging to form Lewiston Blue Demons Middle School Hockey Club.

The Demons will play in the Southern Maine Middle School Hockey League. Teams in the SMMSHL include NYA, Biddeford, Falmouth, and the newly formed St. Dom’s Academy.

Steve Bannister, Blue Demons president, the move from the Northern Maine MSHL to the SMMSHL offers five divisions to compete in. The goal is to have Tier I and Tier II teams.

Luke Bourassa, coach of the Ice Dawgs, added that the move is a positive step forward for Lewiston Middle School Hockey. “This provides an opportunity for our middle school players to play for their school, community and continue the tradition of Lewiston hockey,” Bourassa said.

Bannister and Bourassa invite all Demons and Ice Dawgs players or new players in grades six through eight  interested in playing middle school hockey to attend the tryouts at Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Registration begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9.

Tryout registration forms will be available at tryouts, which are scheduled from 7:20 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. Sept. 9 and 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.

Fee to try out is $20. All participants must present a copy of USA Hockey 2010/11 registration to get on the ice.

The Demons welcome middle school eligible players from the LAYHL boundary that don’t have a middle school team to play for.

Call Bannister at 838-8734 or Bourassa at 753-0208 for more details.