If recent history is a good indicator, hockey teams making the transition from the unsanctioned spring High Plains League into Colorado High School Activities Association play have not fared well.
The latest team trying to buck the trend is Monarch. The Coyotes come in with an impressive resume from the High Plains, having won championships in 2004, 2005 and 2007. The Coyotes were USA Hockey’s Rocky Mountain District champions in 2005 and 2006.
“Hockey is still hockey, but everyone has their different styles,” said Jimmy Dexter, the longtime Boulder Valley Hockey Club and Monarch coach. “Coaching shouldn’t be any different.”
Dexter, whose team will play in the Foothills Conference, attributes some of the recent struggles of new CHSAA teams to players having to make a choice between their clubs and high schools, but admits it won’t be too long before the choice to play for a school will start to be more prevalent.
“Just the coverage you receive is something you just don’t get at the club level,” said Dexter, who played his high school hockey in New Hampshire and collegiately at Plymouth State. “Also with clubs, most of the time it’s really just friends and family in the stands.
“Here there are bigger crowds. And who doesn’t want to be a part of that?”
The Coyotes, who open the season today in Vail against preseason No. 5 Battle Mountain, are experienced and have a deep senior core including forwards Michael Roberts, Dallas Lehman, defender Jeff Howell and goalie Zane Sampson.
Everyone in the league will be chasing two-time defending champion Regis Jesuit. The Raiders will be tough to score on with a defense that features Tanner Ottenbreit, Tanner Scales, Thomas Stack and Austin Miller in front of goalie Mitch Sungelo.
Ralston Valley and Aspen will give the Raiders a run for the conference title.
In the Peak Conference, Lewis-Palmer rode goalie Brent Schwarz’s efforts all the way to the title game last season and is strong enough to make it back.
Cheyenne Mountain, Battle Mountain, Steamboat Springs and Rampart provide depth.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
Top five
1. Regis Jesuit
2. Ralston Valley
3. Lewis-Palmer
4. Steamboat Springs
5. Battle Mountain
Players to watch
(Returning all-state selections)
Name School Yr.
Nick Davis Regis Jesuit Jr.
Daniel Doremus Aspen Sr.
Chris Dylewski Pine Creek Sr.
Branden Johnson Doherty Jr.
Michael Lewis Cheyenne Mountain Sr.
Cam Maceau Air Academy Sr.
Shamus O’Neill Summit Sr.
Tanner Ottenbreit Regis Jesuit Sr.
Brent Schwarz Lewis-Palmer Jr.
Connor Tedstrom Battle Mountain Sr.
