Foothill League

Defending state champion and top-ranked Aspen is the team to beat again, as the Skiers return 15 players. That includes five defensemen, led by All-Colorado defenseman Simon Dolginow. Defending league champion No. 2 Ralston Valley made it to the title game in its first season, and with All-Colorado goalie Matt Hardiek in net a return trip is within reach.

Standley Lake didn’t make it as far as the Mustangs in its first season, losing in the quarterfinals to Ralston Valley, but the Gators will be tough again. They return all-staters Aaron Palincyx and Josh Smith. Regis will want atone for being upset in the playoffs, and with 16 upperclassmen, led by the team’s best offensive player Gregg Davis, the Raiders should make it back to the playoffs. Summit, which beat Regis in the postseason, has 14 players returning. Led by Braxton Campbell, the Tigers have a good chance to go far in the playoffs.

Colorado Academy has joined forces with Mullen, and with former Denver University hockey player Brock McMorris behind the bench, the Mustangs should be improved. With Greg Borchers in net for Peak to Peak, the Pumas should contend for a playoff berth, while Machebeuf will use the 1-2 combo of Cody Davis and R.J. Quintana in net.

Kent Denver has talent returning and should make a push for the playoffs, while Columbine, Chatfield and Dakota Ridge should be much improved in their second seasons.

Pikes Peak League

The two teams - Air Academy and Cheyenne Mountain - that represented the league in the final four last season lost a lot of talent to graduation. No. 3 Battle Mountain will have its top three lines back, led by Jonny Stevens and Barrett Chow. The team that has all the coaches talking is No. 4 Palmer. The Terrors have depth at every position and will have its leading scorer back in Josh Popovich. Following an impressive first season, No. 5 Lewis-Palmer has a majority of its team back, led by defenseman Joey Fillo and forward Keith Yates.

Rampart will be young, as 18 of the 25 players on the roster are underclassmen. The Rams do have two seniors: high-scoring Donald Geary and Cord Foster. Pine Creek won’t have much depth, as the roster has only 16 players, but they do have seniors Grant Shauer and Colin Martel. Steamboat Springs should be solid once again, led by seniors Gregg Ingals and Jeff Dawes. Pueblo County lost a lot of scoring talent but will rely on Jacob Meek and Brad Reeves to pick up the scoring.

Mitchell has 11 sophomores on the roster, led by Jason Dandino and Brett Weinderger. Doherty, paced, by Aaron Hawley, and Coronado, keyed by Matthew Moseley, should be better, while Liberty, following a winless season, will have 15 players back, six of whom are juniors.

Additional top returning players

Forwards

Jack Buntmann, Colorado Academy/Mullen, Sr.; Braxton Campbell, Summit, Sr.; Nick Carey, Regis, Sr.; Barrett Chow, Battle Mountain, Sr.; Steve Fillo, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Tyler Finley, Machebeuf, Sr.; Cord Foster, Rampart, Sr.; Cody Fritz, Steamboat Springs, Jr.; Brandon Grant, Liberty, Sr.; Aaron Hawley, Doherty, Sr.; Nathan MacArther, Peak to Peak, Sr.; Ryan Maddux, Battle Mountain, Sr.; Jacob Meek, Pueblo County, Sr.; Jeff Montepare, Summit, Sr.; Tyler Moore, Aspen, Sr.; Aaron Palinckx, Standley Lake, Sr.; Ethan Peer, Peak to Peak, Sr.; Jeff Royce, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.; Rollin Schuler, Columbine, Jr.; Grant Shauer, Pine Creek, Sr.; Justin Sherman, Coronado, Jr.; Graham Smith, Ralston Valley, Jr.; Collin Stookey, Dakota Ridge, Sr.; Kyle Towbas, Palmer, Sr.; Brett Weinderger, Mitchell, So.

Defensemen

Josh Abby, Liberty, Jr.; Garrett Aschermann, Ralston Valley, Sr.; John Clinton, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.; Jason Dandino, Mitchell, So.; John DeSpain, Colorado Academy/Mullen, Sr.; Kyle Faulkner, Standley Lake, Sr.; Mike Fisk, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Joe Frechette, Columbine, Sr.; Ricky Frias, Aspen, Sr.; Brian Hartman, Palmer, Jr.; Cam Maceau, Air Academy, So.; Kyle Nitchen, Pueblo County, Sr.; Joe Partridge, Pine Creek, Sr.; Andy Ransom, Coronado, Sr.; Ian Rawley, Regis, Jr.;

Goalies

Colin Anonsen, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.; Jeremy Byrns, Rampart, Jr.; Will Carns, Doherty, Sr.; Cody Davis, Machebuef, Sr.; Jeff Dawes, Steamboat Springs, Sr.; Chris Delyewski, Pine Creek, So.; Hunter Douglas, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.; Jordan Garkow, Columbine, Jr.; Matthew Moseley, Coronado, Sr.; Mike Schube, Colorado Academy/Mullen, Jr.; Josh Smith, Standley Lake, Sr.; Bobby Willey, Dakota Ridge, Jr.