LEWISTON — The Maine Nordiques and the Northeast Generals took different approaches to Wednesday’s North American Hockey League exhibition game at The Colisee, in which the Generals won 6-1.

Maine dressed in blue practice jerseys and white-and-blue socks because its uniforms hadn’t arrived yet. The players had helmets, gloves and pants from the teams they played for last season.  Meanwhile, the Generals wore full team-issued uniforms.

Roster construction was also notably different. The Nordiques didn’t dress any returners, with 47 players in camp and only had four players with Tier II junior hockey experience playing. The Generals went with a veteran lineup made up of 12 players with Tier II experience, including four players who have already committed to play for NCAA Division I college hockey programs.

Maine Nordiques coach and general manager Nick Skerlick wanted to get a glimpse of players on the bubble of making the team and the younger players who will be suiting up for the Maine Nordiques Academy teams and could get called up during the season.

“Today was a really good sense of we gave some kids an opportunity that could be our future,” Skerlick said. “We played 14 (2005 or 2006 birth year) players; five of those kids will play for our 18U national team this season. It was nice to see those five lead the charge.

“There were a couple of other players out there that were older, and you can tell right away if they can handle the North American League’s East Division or not. That was our main focus today.”

Jacob Reese, a 2006-birthyear defenseman, was one of the players that stood out for Skerlick, along with 2006-born forward Cam Stehle. Skerlick said Stehle drove the Nordiques offense. Padraic Whited, a 2005-born defenseman, also had a good game, according to Skerlick. All three will split time between the NAHL team and the 18U academy team.

The Generals only brought 26 players to their training camp and basically played their regular-season lineup.

“It was fun to get back on the ice and get a competitive game in,” Northeast coach Bryan Erikson said. “Trying to break up training camp a little bit can be exhausting. It was fun to get out there and play some hockey.”

With University of Maine assistant coach, and former Maine Nordiques general manager, Eric Soltys watching, Black Bears recruit Ryan Remick had a goal and two assists for the Generals.

“He will be relied on pretty heavily,” Erikson said of Remick. “Him, Frankie D’Ancona and Jacob Wilson is a really good line. … Ryan, he’s a mature hockey player, and Maine is going to get a really good hockey player. We are going to really work hard. He’s going to work really hard to make sure he’s ready to contribute on day one.”

The first period was mostly quiet until the final three minutes when Ben Campeau scored from the high slot, giving the Generals a 1-0 lead.

That was the lone goal Nordiques starting goalie Ben Baker gave up in one period of action. Itamar Melzer replaced him for the second period.

Carson Schfor, who took the lone penalty of the first period, tied the game for the Nordiques 1-1 when he stuffed the puck past Generals goalie Toby Hopp early into the second.

Hopp was pulled midway through the second period so Marks Slavinskis-Repe could get some playing time.

Joey McGraw responded for Northeast nearly six minutes into the second when he jammed the puck past Melzer.

Will Reardon, a Holy Cross commit, scored on the Generals’ fourth power play of the game with a slap shot from the right circle 14 minutes into the second stanza for a 3-1 advantage.

Maine had power play opportunities, including multiple 5-on-3 chances late in the second and early in the third period, but couldn’t convert them into goals.

Skerlick said the Nordiques haven’t worked much on power plays in training camp, which began on Friday.

“We tried to draw something up, and we weren’t even close to touching (puck),” Skerlick said. “We were happy with the penalty kill; the penalty kill was good today.”

Campeau scored his second of the contest nearly four minutes into the third period. Remick and Phil Feinberg scored breakaway goals later in the third period to extend the gap to 6-1.

“It gave a really good scope of what the Gens will have this year,” Skerlick said. “Obviously, they are sitting their top line, but 95 percent of their roster played. It’s really good to understand what’s coming at us and where we need to improve.”

Aaron Matthews played in goal for Maine during the third period.

Skerlick said he will cut down the roster to 30 on Thursday and, after a practice on Saturday, will make a second round of cuts to get to 25 players.

The Nordiques will have one more exhibition game on Sept. 1 against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. Maine opens the regular season on Sept. 8 against the Generals.

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