PEAK CONFERENCE

AIR ACADEMY

Coach: Dave Meisinger, 8th season

Last year: 14-4-1

Key players: Nick Law, sr.; Travis Hinton, sr.; Jake Ebmeyer, sr., G.

Outlook: This year looks to be a rebuilding year for Air Academy after losing a large chunk of last year’s squad – including seven players to graduation and four to AAA club hockey – that reached the state quarterfinals.

The Kadets will be relying upon 15 players that have never played high school hockey before.

“Key will be getting the young guys used to playing bigger and older competition,” Meisinger said.

However, outstanding goaltending can take you far and carry an inexperienced team. That may be the case for Air Academy with Jake Ebmeyer, who Meisinger believes has the potential to be one of the best netminders in Colorado. The senior returns this year after going 7-1 last season with a 2.14 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

 

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN

Coach: Erik Austin, 3rd season

Last year: 4-14-1

Key players: Lacayo, jr.; Tyler Taylor, sr.; Greg Liquori, sr.

Outlook: Cheyenne Mountain should be poised to bounce back from last season’s four-win campaign. The Indians will have another full season under their belt and return most of their players from last year and have a strong incoming freshman class.

Ryan Case (15 goals) leads the Cheyenne Mountain attack after finishing last year as one of the top-20 goal scorers in the conference and is eyeing a 20-goal season if the junior continues to develop.

Klopenstine is another junior back for the Indians after leading the team in scoring with 23 points (7G, 16A).

 

DOHERTY

Coach: Will English, 3rd season

Last year: 13-6

Key players: Brennen Ward, sr., F; Mikael Smart, sr.; Ryan Lefebvere, sr., F; Ty Snyder, jr., D.

Outlook: Doherty will be searching for a new identity this year after losing standouts Dusty Kachel, Evan Weidner and Jared Wolf to graduation. However, this year’s team still has plenty of offensive firepower.

“Our offensive players should be very dynamic throughout the season,” English said. “We will focus a ton on our defensive zone to help transition the offense zone quickly so that our offensive strength can take care of business.”

Captain Ward will be looked upon to help Doherty light the lamp, as he is the highest returning scorer after posting nine goals and eight assists.

Lefebvere has spent the last three years watching guys like Kachel and Weidner find the back of the net and will get a full-time opportunity to help Doherty get on the scoreboard.

Keep an eye on first-year player Smart and junior defenseman Snyder, as they give the Spartans tenacity.

The biggest question mark for the Spartans is who will be the team’s starting goaltender with four players in the mix for the position following the graduation of Jared Torf.

 

LEWIS-PALMER

Coach: Hal. L. Jordan III, 1st season

Last year: 10-8-1

Key players: Adam Schaefer, sr., D; Taylor Hill, sr., D; Julian Claudio, sr., F; Casey McMullin, sr., F; Dmitri Smith, jr., D; Dustin Jones, jr., F.

Outlook: Jordan takes over the Lewis-Palmer program after Steve Fillo was at the helm for the past seven years. The first-year coach has plenty of weapons to work with, as 16 players return from last year’s playoff team.

The biggest strength for Lewis-Palmer is the team’s defensive corps. Five defensemen that are all bigger than 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds return to protect an L-P net that needs to find a goalie. Leading the crew on the blue line will be seniors Schaefer (6G, 8A), whom Jordan described as a “big, solid defenseman,” and Hill.

Smith led all Lewis-Palmer defenseman last year with seven goals and 10 assists and is going to be relied upon to help L-P get some shots and offensive opportunities from the blue line.

Generating offense will be the big test for Lewis-Palmer, along with finding an answer in goal, as to determining how far this team can go. The seniors already have a state title under their belts, and they want another.

“L-P’s offense could be lethal,” Jordan said, “but that is up to them if they want to wear their blue jeans to work in the corners and down low in the paint.”

Team-leading goal scorer Julian Claudio (17G) returns and is in position to become a top-five goal scorer in school history.

 

LIBERTY

Coach: Brian Straub, 1st season

Last year: 2-16-1

Key players: Alex McAfee, sr., D; Jimmy Kellen, jr., G; Nathan Watts, soph., F; Andre Ogren, soph., F.

Outlook: Ogren and Watts will try and spark the Liberty offense after the Lancers finished in the basement of the Peak Conference in scoring with 35 goals last year.

Liberty is young again with 11 new players and will rely upon McAfee to provide leadership on the ice during Straub’s first-year serving as the Lancers head coach.

 

PINE CREEK

Coach: Ken Martel, 7th season

Last year: 7-12

Key players: Zachary Zimmerman, jr., F; Riley Gregory, soph., F; Conor Chmelka, jr., G.

Outlook: Zimmerman (10G, 11A) – the Eagles’ leading scorer the past two years – highlights a veteran core returning to Pine Creek.

Chmelka (3-4, 4.25 GAA, .885 save percentage) is another one of a dynamic bulk of juniors that round out the Eagles roster. Pine Creek also has a good group of seniors that will look to team with the junior class to form a consistent on-ice attack.

Martel said the team also has some younger players that will contribute. One of those will be Gregory, who finished second on the team in scoring last year with nine goals and 10 assists as a freshman. Gregory and Zimmerman give the Eagles a potent offensive duo.

 

RAMPART

Coach: Josh McIntosh, 8th season

Last year: 0-19

Key players: Trey Williams, sr., F; Tyler Adams, sr., F; John Meakins, sr., F; Kylin Duskus, sr., F; Mitch Kinzer, jr., D; Nic Anderson, jr., D.

Outlook: It can’t get much worse for Rampart. After a winless season, the Rams will try to rebound. McIntosh likes the effort he’s seen in practice. “… They will work hard and play the game right,” he said. Williams, the captain is a strong forward not afraid to block shots. Tyler Adams and brother Alex Adams (a freshman) could provide much-needed scoring, and should receive help from another freshman, Gavin Johnston. Newcomer Anderson could become one of the Rams’ strongest players. Rampart carries three goalies. One of them will need to grab the starting spot.

 

Teams not reporting: Coronado, Palmer

Justin Felisko, The Gazette

Charlie Frankmore, left, congratulates Mike Provenzano on his retirement from coaching hockey during a retirement party for Provenzano Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the Colorado Springs Country Club. Provenzano coached for over 43 years and dozens of former high school players and coaches came to honor him Saturday. Mark Reis, The Gazette

MARK REIS