The Lewiston Maineiacs trimmed eight players from their roster during the first five days of training camp.

Following Monday morning’s practice, forwards Christopher Caissy, Nick Jordan, Marc-Antoine Rousseau and Colton Stairs and defenseman Maxime Godin were cut from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League squad, reducing to 35 the number of players in camp.

On Sunday, the Maineiacs acquired Cole Hawes, a 17-year-old forward, from the Shawinigan Cataractes for a third-round draft pick in 2011 and a fifth-round selection in 2012.

Earlier in the weekend, forwards Cole McDonald and Sotiris Athanasopoulos left the team to maintain their NCAA eligibility, and defenseman Jay Kourkoulis was sent home for medical reasons.

For the next three days, the Lewiston roster will include 19 forwards, 10 defenseman and six goaltenders.

“We kept all six goalies for three or four more days because we’re going to do some shooting drills with the players,” General Manager Roger Shannon said. “Friday, I’ll trim the roster down again. It will look slightly more normal.”

Shannon expects the team roster to be down to 23 players by the opener, Sept. 11 at home against the Rimouski Oceanic.

Later this week, the Maineiacs travel to Quebec to play preseason games against the Quebec City Remparts at Riviere Du-Loop on Friday night and the Collisee Pepsi in Quebec City on Saturday night.

 

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com