Air Academy

Coach: Dave Meisinger (first season, coached AA for eight years earlier).

Last season: 15-3 regular season; 1-1 playoffs

Key players: Anthony Ciolli, jr.; Grant Lichtenberger, so. Forrest Joyal, jr.; Jason Stolz, so.

Outlook: The return of goalie Stolz and defensemen Ciolli and Lichtenberger give the Kadets a strong defense to build on while an inexperienced team develops on offense.

The team lost 72 percent of its scoring to graduation so goals will be at a premium.

Cheyenne Mountain

Coach: Erik Austin (fifth season)

Last season: 9-8-1 regular season; 0-1 playoffs

Key players: None provided.

Outlook: The Indians are expected to do well by other area coaches with a program enjoying considerable depth. A no-cut approach has developed a junior varsity program; a relative rarity in southern Colorado high school hockey.

“We will be a hard-working team that moves the puck well,” Austin said.

Coronado

Coach: Mark Tabrum (second season)

Last season: 2-17

Key players: Beau Foos, jr.; Tanner Pochipinski, so.; Max Van Lancker, so.; Andrew Burton, so.; Tanner Mayberry, jr.; Marley Machin, jr.; Patrick Tabrum, sr.; Chris Phillips, sr.

Outlook: The Cougars expect better of themselves after a season when Coronado allowed an average of 7.68 goals and managed 1.78 on offense.

Van Lancker will anchor the defense along with goalie Foos.

Doherty

Coach: Will English (fifth season)

Last season: 15-3-1 regular season; 0-1 playoffs

Key players: Jack Gault, jr.; Dylan Sater, jr., captain; Noah Johnston, sr.; Zach Sellinger, fr.; Anthony Atencio, so.

Outlook: Gault is back in net for a maturing program looking for its former depth players to step forward into leadership roles.

Newcomers Atencio and Sellinger give the Spartans a boost and English is confident the mix will prove successful.

Lewis-Palmer

Coach: Hal Jordan (second season)

Last season: 10-8 regular season; 0-1 playoffs

Key players: Marcus Smith, sr.; Cooper Husak, sr.; Nick Roscoe, sr.; Cameron Brummond, sr.; Nick Pavlik, sr.; Kamren Shoup, sr.; Christian Perry, jr.; Tanner Colson, so.

Outlook: The return of goalies Smith and Noah Vanderbeck anchors the defense while L-P will look for its forwards to step up offensively.

With 16 players back, the Rangers are the consensus top pick among the area coaches.

Liberty

Coach: Brian Straub (third season)

Last season: 5-12

Key players: Andre Ogrean, sr. co-captain; Nathan Watts, sr. co-captain; Ryan Bishop, sr.

Outlook: Thanks to a large senior class with four year’s varsity playing experience, this could be a breakout campaign for the Lancers.

“As freshmen, this class gained lots of experience and toughness in a 2-16-1 season,” Straub said. “For the past three years they have worked incredibly hard to establish a strong program and positive culture for Liberty hockey. As a team and a school we are looking forward to sending all these notable seniors off with a positive and winning season.”

Palmer

Coach: Kevin Moore (first season)

Last season: 4-15

Key players: Cameron Groff, sr.; Matt Barr, sr.; Trey Aragon, sr.; Moses Chavez, sr.; Caleb Espinoza, sr.; Cody Aigner, sr.; Leslie Nichols, sr.; Leeanne Dwyer, sr.; Tanner Olson, sr.; Justin Hughes, jr.; Nolan Nussbaum, jr.; Parker Downs, jr.

Outlook: Look for more speed on the ice this season than in years past for the Terrors, who look to have the pieces to mount a march to the state playoffs.

The team also added a junior varsity program to build toward the future.

Pine Creek

Coach: Ed Saxer (first season)

Last season: 9-8-1 regular season, 0-1 playoffs

Key players: Riley Gregory; Logan Stein, Trae Miller, Dylan Greco, Nick Wortman, Chris Romero, Shane Flanagan, Wyatt Kiewicz, Jarret Pederson.

Outlook: An influx of players from Saxer’s youth hockey coaching days and the return of others, including goalie Kiewicz, should help offset the loss of 14 to graduation for the Eagles.

Pueblo County

Co-coaches: Lee LaJeunesse, Grant Hankins (both first season)

Last season: 8-9

Key players: Nick Maewes, sr. co-captain; Zack Hinkle, sr. co-captain; Anthony Dionisio, jr.; Kyle Naylor, jr.

Outlook: The addition of club talent like Maewes, Hinkle and Dionisio should complement a workhorse like Naylor and the 10 sophomores.

After missing out on the playoffs by a single game last season, LaJeunesse expects to make the postseason and be a strong program for the next couple of years.

Rampart

Coach: Joshua McIntosh (10th season)

Last season: 3-15

Key players: Gavin Johnston, jr.; Wes Moore, sr.; Tyler Montoya, so.; James Adams, so.; Trevor Jesse, so.; Patrick McCann, so.; Skyler McIntosh, sr.; Alex Adams, jr.; Chase Allen, so.

Outlook: The Rams will lean on a strong sophomore class with two seniors and three juniors on the roster. If Johnston, Montoya, Adams and McCann have breakout seasons, along with goalie Allen, the Rams could be playoff ready.