LEWISTON — With a new year on the horizon, hockey fans in Lewiston are closer to knowing the brand of hockey they will have a chance to see full time at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

But nothing is yet set in stone.

“We’re continuing to look at the junior hockey model,” Colisee owner Jim Cain said. “We’re moving down that road pretty quickly, and we should know something early in the new year on that front.”

The speculation from the beginning of the Colisee’s search process was that Cain and his team were hoping to latch onto an Eastern expansion of the United States Hockey League, the top junior hockey league in the country.

That potential still exists, Cain said, but there may be a step in between.

Meanwhile, the Federal Hockey League’s foray into the market continues this week with the third of a five-game series of contests featuring several of the league’s current franchises.

Thursday, the Akwesasne Warriors roll back into town to square off against the Cape Cod Bluefins. The Warriors played in the first game of the series, dubbed ‘The Maine Event,’ in a final rematch with Brooklyn. On the season, Akwesasne has nine wins and is in the middle of the pack in the league, just ahead of the Bluefins.

“We should have a good game this week,” Cain said. “There are some pretty skilled players on both of these rosters.”

Pierre Dagenais, a former NHLer, headlines the Warriors’ roster. He leads the league in goals (30), and in points (55). Reigning rookie of the week, Brad Surdam, plays for Cape Cod, and former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League standout Garrett Peters leads the Bluefins in goals (19) and points (30).

“We’re also expecting pretty good-sized attendance at this one, being the holiday week and people are on vacation,” Cain said. “I think we’ll see a good game that’s within a couple of goals this time.”

The FHL’s previous game in Lewiston ended in near disaster, with a lopsided score and several suspensions resulting from a major brawl between a pair of unevenly match teams.

The FHL has also attempted to place a few more games in Lewiston this season, but Cain said the dates they tried for were already booked.

“We just didn’t have the room,” Cain said, “with all of the youth hockey, travel hockey and all of the tournaments, all of the ice time was gone.”

Faceoff for the Akwesasne/Cape Cod game Thursday is at 7 p.m.