Eastern Class A

At the end of the playoffs last March, given everything teams had remaining on their roster cards when you eliminated graduating seniors, two of the Twin Cities’ three Class A hockey teams appeared headed in very different directions.

Lewiston had more than a dozen seniors, including a half dozen conference all-stars. St. Dom’s had less than a handful.

But how the summer can change things around.

The Saints lost a pair of key players to junior hockey and another to transfer, seriously crippling what would have been unmatched depth on the front line and knocking a piece out of their defensive puzzle. The Blue Devils’ blue line took far less of a hit than the team’s forward group, even adding that aforementioned St. Dom’s transfer, while the younger forwards from last year’s squad have appeared to mature more quickly as hockey players than might have been anticipated.

And while those two teams are the area’s traditional top teams, they are by for no longer alone in the discussion on Eastern Class A supremacy.

Welcome to the conversation, Bangor. And Waterville? The Purple Panthers never seem to go away, either.

The Rams have a younger team than last year, but they return one of the top goalies, and the chemistry on this team is very, very good. There is a good blend of youth, experience and talent on the roster and this may be the team’s best chance in a while to make its mark in Eastern A.

Waterville’s numbers are down a bit this year, and losing a couple of big names is going to hurt. But pride and tradition dictate that the Panthers will once again be among the conference’s top four.

At Lewiston, success will exist dependent upon the ability of the forward group to find the net, and the ability of its goalies to succeed in the daunting task of following Cam Poussard’s four brilliant years. There is speed, and the defense is very good in front of the new keeper(s).

The Saints are still the prohibitive favorite in Eastern A, given their high-end, 1-2 punch in the net with Austin Christopher and Grant Carrier, their top pairing defenders who are as good as they come in Maine, and their good mix of forwards.

EL should be slightly improved over last year, and the Eddies will also be breaking in a new full-time goalie behind what should be a speedy forward group.

Gray-New Gloucester/Poland made great strides a year ago by hosting a playoff contest for the first time. A new keeper and the loss of Kolby Arnold will be tough hurdles to jump, but there is a good core remaining from a year ago, and no shortage of will to win.

Maranacook/Hall-Dale/Winthrop (or MHW) also had a solid season a year ago. There isn’t much missing from a team that gave some of the traditional top teams fits, and the Hawks could be in line to do the same this year.

Mt. Ararat/Lisbon will try to shake off a tough season, and will play a schedule that should help the team rebound in the win/loss ratio, and help build some confidence.

Brunswick might be the biggest sleeper in terms of teams no one else seems to be talking about. The Dragons have been slowly building the past couple of years, and edged into the playoffs on the last day of last season. Look for improvement in spades here.

Western Class A

Through most of the past decade, teams have either repeated as Class A champions, or come pretty darn close. Edward Little, Cheverus and Biddeford all went back-to-back, with the Tigers even taking it to 3 of 4.

Thornton will be favored to continue the trend.

Led by all-state forward C.J. Maksut, transfer Bryan Dallaire and a host of players returning from last year’s title team, the Trojans will be once again the team to beat in Class A.

Expect cross-town rival Biddeford to be one of the biggest challengers in Western A, along with a Falmouth team that found success a year ago with one of the youngest rosters in Class A hockey. If the Yachtsmen can come together as a team under their third coach in as many years, they will be a not-so-deep sleeper.

The anomaly this year is that, after the ‘Big 3,’ Western A is wide open. There are good teams playing not-so-good schedules, and others playing tougher schedules. Cheverus is purportedly back on its feet a bit and could be in the conversation. South Portland has had a few good seasons and could again be a team to reckon with, and Portland will be low on numbers, but not on talent.

Scarborough always bears watching, given the program’s history and coaching pedigree, and Marshwood/Traip and Noble are coming off solid seasons among the Tier III schools.

Eastern Class B

Brewer has carved a niche as — by far — the best team in Eastern B. Scary for the rest of the conference is that the Witches were actually a young team last year when they won every game but the state final. The goal is nothing short of taking another shot at that crown this season.

Interesting, this season, is Messalonskee’s drop into Class B. This ill give Brewer a new team to see, and the Eagles will have one of the top two or three goalies in Maine between the pipes, along with one of the most versatile athletes in Sam Dexter. As newcomers, some teams may overlook the Eagles. But that would be a mistake.

Winslow should step back into the limelight this season after an couple of uncharacteristic seasons, and Houlton/Hodgdon and Presque Isle will represent Aroostook County well, with the the Wildcats returning to form after building a bit a year ago.

The sleeper here this year? Old Town, which may well be locked in battle with Messalonskee for second place.

Western Class B

While most of the pundits across the state focused on Brewer last season, York went about its business quietly — until the shouts of jubilation echoed at the Colisee with a Class B state title. Westbrook’s departure for Class A leaves this conference with only seven members, of which all seven could make a case for being a playoff team this season.

York will dip a bit with the loss of its keeper and a couple of key skaters. But there is a lot returning, too, who have all been through a deep playoff run.

Yarmouth will look to continue its climb, Cape Elizabeth had a strong finish a year ago, and Greely always seems to have a solid, top-to-bottom squad.

Then there’s Leavitt. The Hornets have always seemed to be on the cusp, but never completely ascending to the conference elite. While a jump to the top may be a bit dramatic, the Hornets will be better this season, and given a perceived upset here and there, could solidify a playoff position earlier than the last week of the season.

Gardiner has been down the past couple of seasons and should rebound as well, and Camden Hills is improving, meaning top to bottom, this could be the tightest race in Maine.

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