HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY OPEN SEASONS NOVEMBER 2ND
For Immediate Release

A total of eleven senior boys hockey teams are preparing to hit the ice next week for the opening of the Sudbury District Secondary Schools' Athletic Association's 66th season of high school hockey.

The eleven team total remains the same as it was last year, although some league advocates feel the league is on the cusp of another expansion, with schools such as Macdonald Cartier, Espanola, Bishop Carter and Sacré-Coeur, all expressing interest.

Here's how the teams stack up this year, sorted in order of their regular season finish last year:

LIVELY HAWKS (14-0-1 - League/Playoff/NOSSA Champs)
Exhibition Record to Date: 1-2-0
Coaches: Sean Gray, Josh Jefferies, Rob Heittola

After last year's record breaking performance, the Hawks will be in a re-building mode this season, with any hope of success riding squarely on the shoulders of seven returning players. A lack of experience and size will present challenges, but even so, the Hawks expect to demonstrate a potent offence and a great power play, and as in the past good team discipline will likely carry them in good stead.


ST CHARLES CARDINALS (11-2-2)
Exhibition Record to Date: 4-0-0
Coaches: Mike Fox, Brian Ceppetelli, Joseph Polano

Counting last year, the Cards have been shut out of the league's top spot for three consecutive seasons, the longest time that the Robert Brown Cup has been out of St Charles College since the early 80's. Add to that and the early exit from last year's playoffs (they lost in the semis against Lasalle), and you have one hungry hockey team who are used to having more than their fair share of success.


LASALLE LANCERS (10-4-1)
Exhibition Record to Date: 1-3-0
Coaches: Chris Matthews, Peter Lucano

The Lancers will welcome a new coach behind the bench this year in Chris Matthews, who will attempt to pick up where his predecessor, Erin McNamara, left off. Even shorthanded over the past few seasons, the Lancers managed to outperform expectations but this year are expecting to be in a re-building mode. A combination of strong goaltending in Josh Sutherland and Matt Wright, and strong leadership in Tyler Cortsen, Cory San Felice and Ryan Neill, should put the Lancers in a position to win in any game played this year.


LOCKERBY COMPOSITE VIKINGS (10-5-0)
Exhibition Record to Date: 0-3-0
Coaches: Dave Winsa, Jake Tapper, Tim Denniston

Another year, another huge turn-out at try-outs for the Vikings. Question is, can they do better than their semi final birth of last year? A core of 10 returning players plus a good core of young talent and fast, two-way players suggest that this may be the break-through year for the Vikes. The one weakness the team is reluctant to point out is size, but speed and experience will more than likely compensate.


MANITOULIN MUSTANGS (5-8-2)
Exhibition Record to Date: 2-0-0
Coaches: Mike Meeker, Ray Corbiere, Greg Lockeyer

The Mustangs also report a huge number of players to try-outs, stimying coaches in their efforts to develop a final roster. Manitoulin will boast a good mixture of size and speed, strong goaltending and very quick, mobile players who can contribute on both sides of the red line. The challenge for the Mustangs may come in scoring goals, but with a solid returning core of nine players, expect this team to improve with each game played. One thing all coaches will agree upon: no one wants to play this team late in the season.


LO-ELLEN PARK KNIGHTS (5-8-2)
Exhibition Record to Date: 0-3-0
Coaches: Don Cull

The Knights started out of the gate a little later than the other teams in the league, but exhibition results thus far have demonstrated that they'll be able to skate with anyone this season. A solid group of veterans will return to the team this year, but will need to improve their discipline and composure in key situations to enjoy a measure of success in a highly competitive league.


COLLEGE NOTRE DAME ALOUETTES (DIV B - 10-6-0)
Exhibition Record to Date: 2-1-0
Coaches: Bruno Gobeil, Sue Dallaire, Bert Ouellette

After the first couple of practices, the Als figured to be a solid Division B team, but then quickly realized with the quality of players starting to come out to try-outs, that Division A would be much more attainable. Thus far, the exhibition results have proven them right. Retuning player Ivan Lachapelle has already demonstrated that he can fill the net, and forwards Eric Ouellette, Sebastien Gobeil and Jean Francois Levesque boast good size and strength up front. With only five players however, the Als are young and will need novice goalies Rene Pothier and Justin Huneau to come up with some big games.


CONFEDERATION CHARGERS (DIV B - 8-8-0)
Exhibition Record to Date: 0-2-0
Coaches: Todd Zimmerman, John Jessop

The defensive core of the Chargers is solid with Scott Zimmerman, Steve Liddard and Tyler Houle expecting to stymie opposing forwards. The question mark for the Chargers this year will again be goaltending, with the late season acquisition of Brett Lyle likely to help. Thus far in the young season the staff have been impressed with the quality of forwards who up until recently hadn't been able to be with the team due to football. Factor all this in and the Chargers could be a dark horse in the 2004-2005 season.


L'HORIZON AIGLES (DIV B - 3-12-1)
Exhibition Record to Date: 3-0-0
Coaches: Denis Piquette, Paul Renaud

Don't let last year's record fool you. Most teams in the league were picking the Aigles as the team to beat this year, and thus far the exhibition results have backed this up. The Aigles will roll out three solid lines, a stable defence and as usual, excellent backstoppers. What they lack in size, they'll more than make up for in experience. The majority of players on this team have NOHA experience at the AA and AAA level so winning a good share of games shouldn't pose much of a problem for this team.


ST BENEDICT BEARS (DIV B - 3-12-1)
Exhibition Record to Date: 4-0-0
Coaches: Todd Rayne, Jesse Maloney

The most improved team of last season is looking to break into the top four this year with nine solid returnees. Even though the Bears lost arguably one of the best players in the league last year in Chris Montgomery, the team will still feature three solid lines with a lot of speed and power, including the likes of Sebastien Bernier, Bryan Freeman (last year's Div II top scorer) and Steve Rachkowski. Overall the team is small in size but anticipate their speed will compensate. Exhibition results thus far have been solid.


CHELSMFORD FLYERS (DIV B - 1-15-0)
Exhibition Record to Date: 0-3-0
Coaches: Frank Crites, Odvar Hagen

The youngest team in the league last year didn't get much older with only seven players returning, but the Flyers expect that their goaltending will be their best asset. What the other players lack in skill and speed, they more than make up for in commitment and discipline. The coaches therefore expect another great improvement from their charges during the 2004-2005 campaign.


Teams will play a complete round robin until mid-January, then will split into two divisions thereafter, completing an interdivisional round robin which will determine playoff match-ups (points from first round robin carry forward). The top four teams in each division will advance to the semi final round in each respective division.

Our annnual poll of the teams derived the following prediction of regular season finish:
1st - St Charles 7th - Confederation
2nd - Lively 8th - Lo-Ellen Park
3rd - Lasalle 9th - St Benedict
4th - Horizon 10th - Notre Dame
5th - Lockerby 11th - Chelmsford
6th - Manitoulin