With constant speculation about the demise of the Lewiston Maineiacs there might be a saving grace less than 40 miles down the road.

For the longest time local ownership was seen as the only way to potentially keep the Maineiacs in Lewiston.

What if that local ownership came in the form of the Portland Pirates?

Pirates Managing Owner and CEO Brian Petrovek didn’t dismiss the notion of owning another hockey franchise in Maine. Instead, he spoke to the natural synergies between the two clubs in terms of selling the product to sponsors and cost benefits of having the operation under one entity.

“Going back to when the Maineiacs arrived in town we held discussions with Mark (Just) about collaboration, about efficiencies in running businesses at two different levels and in an expanded market place,” Petrovek said. “Those kinds of conversations always happen and never end because you just don’t know what opportunities might come from keeping everybody up to date on your businesses.”

When asked about the recent speculation of the Pirates along with their partners, Maine Hockey Group, which own the Portland Jr. Pirates and is based in Saco, about beginning the process of doing their due diligence on a potential purchase of the Maineiacs. Petrovek declined comment instead referring to Maineiacs Minority Owner Paul Spellman, who was not available.

Petrovek has acknowledged in the past that have two healthy franchise operating in Maine is a positive on numerous levels including cross-branding and expanding the market place beyond Portland and Lewiston/Auburn.

“There is a benefit for us to see competitive hockey grow in Lewiston/Auburn,” said Petrovek. “There is a trickledown effect to us in Portland and vice versa. It’s a natural process of a consumer.”

This is not the first time the Pirates have shown interest in the Maineiacs or their current home the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. The organization tried to purchase Androscoggin Bank Colisee in 2008, losing out to Firland Management, who currently owns the Colisee.

“We’ve had interest from the beginning about a relationship, and because (the Pirates and Maineiacs) both think it’s in our best interest to do that,” Petrovek said. “We both need to be healthy and strong and if that’s under separate ownership so be it. We’d find our own level and choose to invest in what we think would be appropriate.”

“If an opportunity arises (to purchase the Maineiacs), we’d certainly have to examine it.”