Lewis-Palmer hockey coach Steve Fillo knows when he has a good thing, and he’s not shy about letting people know.
The Rangers skated to their first title last season, an emotional victory for a coach who had lost his son just six months earlier, and they look to continue the ride in 2010-11.
“I love coaching at this level, especially a senior-laden team such as this,” said Fillo, who spent many years with the younger bunch. “We have 19 returnees from last year, and in practice we’ve been able to pick up right where we left off.”
The key returner for the Rangers, who start the season No. 1 in The Denver Post’s preseason poll, is goalie Brent Schwarz.
The senior almost single-handedly kept Lewis-Palmer in the title game against Ralston Valley, stopping 33-of-35 shots.
“He stole the game for us,” Fillo said. “Brent allows us to play a more aggressive style of hockey. I don’t worry about odd-man rushes too much, because I know he is back there.”
Kyle Lee, who netted the championship-winning goal in overtime last season, is back along with potent forwards Kyle Lachner, Jordy Fleming, Justin Brame and offensive defenseman Travis Fisk.
“We play a track meet style of game,” Fillo said. “And the kids love playing that way.”
The Rangers’ trip through the Peak Conference won’t be as simple as it appears on paper. Cheyenne Mountain and Air Academy are always in the hunt, but Rampart gets the early nod in the rankings at No. 5.
Bishop Machebeuf and Heritage make the move to the Peak and keep an eye on the Eagles, who could field a deep team in the first season that club hockey will not be played at the same time as the high school season in Denver. All four mountain teams — Aspen, Battle Mountain, Steamboat Springs and Summit — now are in the Foothills Conference, one annually owned by Regis Jesuit and Ralston Valley.
One more change worth noting for the season is the length of periods being increased from 15 minutes to 17 minutes.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
Top five hockey teams
1. Lewis-Palmer
2. Ralston Valley
3. Regis Jesuit
4. Aspen
5. Rampart
Players to watch
Ryan Barnes, Pueblo County, Sr.
Jake Bearss, Steamboat Springs, Sr.
Ryder Conroy, Fountain Valley, Sr.
Jesse Gasbarro, Bishop Machebeuf, Sr.
Braden Johnson, Doherty, Sr.
Kyle Lachner, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.
Zach Neal, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.
Tanner Ottenbriet, Regis Jesuit, Sr.
Tanner Scales, Regis Jesuit, Jr.
Brent Schwarz, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.
