A hat trick is something a handful of high school hockey players in Washtenaw County can say they’ve accomplished.

But only one of them, Dexter High School’s John Brosch, can claim to have the fastest hat trick in the state. Ever. The senior forward’s three-goal eruption over a mere 34-second stretch against Saline on Jan. 23 nearly cut the previous state record of 1:01 in half.

Dexter coach Gary Howell hopes Brosch has plenty of goals left in him for the MHSAA pre-regional round, which begins Monday when playoff pucks are dropped across the state.

Highlighting Monday’s opening night is a cross-town showdown between Pioneer and Huron in a Division 1 game at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Huron won a pair of regular season meetings, but River Rat coach Bill DeGroot says “that makes no difference."

"It doesn’t matter who’s standing in front of you. You have to win," DeGroot said. "Everybody starts at zero. That’s what playoff hockey is all about.”

A look at each pre-regional involving Washtenaw County teams, followed by a poll for you to select your own winner:

DIVISION 1

PRE-REGIONAL 15 Where: Ann Arbor Ice Cube

Monday: Pioneer vs. Huron, 7:45 p.m.

Wednesday: Willow Run vs. Pioneer/Huron winner, 7:45 p.m.

Winner advances to: Region 8 final; 7 p.m. Saturday at Dearborn Ice Skating Center.

Overview: Huron hopes to send Pioneer packing for the third time this season. The River Rats are led by goalie Luke Dwyer, who recorded 21 and 35 saves, respectively, in the River Rats’ 5-0 and 4-2 wins over the Pioneers. No matter which team claims city bragging rights, they will have a hungry Willow Run team waiting in the wings. After a slow start, the Flyers have been on a late-season surge, winning six of their last eight games.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Huron.

PRE-REGIONAL 16 Where: Dearborn Ice Skating Center

Monday: Dearborn United vs. Monroe, 5 p.m.; Lincoln-Milan vs. Taylor United, 7:30

Wednesday: Winner vs. winner, 7:30 p.m.

Winner advances to: Region 8 final; 7 p.m. Saturday at Dearborn Ice Skating Center.

Overview: The Lincoln-Milan co-op team just saw Taylor United, facing them earlier this month and nabbing a 7-5 win. If the Railsplitters can repeat that outcome, it will be the program’s first playoff victory. Additionally, Lincoln-Milan has twice topped potential second round opponent Monroe (5-3 and 9-4). Dearborn, meanwhile, appears to be a mystery match-up. “I don’t know anything about them,” admitted Railsplitter coach Mike Ferguson.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Lincoln-Milan.

DIVISION 2

PRE-REGIONAL 22 Where: Arctic Coliseum, Chelsea

Monday: Pinckney vs. Temperance Bedford, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Saline vs. Pinckney/Bedford winner, 6 p.m.

Winner advances to: Region 11 final; 3 p.m. Saturday at Suburban Ice, East Lansing

Overview: Saline won’t lie, it’s happy to receive a first-round bye while Bedford and Pinckney duke it out in round one. The pre-region favorite is Pinckney (16-7), which upset No. 9-ranked Brighton earlier this winter. “They’ve done some big things,” said Saline coach Drew Denzin, whose team does have the momentum of scoring more than two goals for the first time in a month during a recent 6-1 win over Detroit Country Day.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Pinckney.

DIVISION 3

PRE-REGIONAL 46 Where: Arctic Coliseum, Chelsea

Tuesday: Dexter vs. Jackson Lumen Christi, 5 p.m.; Father Gabriel Richard vs. Chelsea, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Winner vs. winner, 6:30 p.m.

Winner advances to: Region 24 final; 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Arctic Coliseum, Chelsea.

Overview: Dexter and Gabriel Richard are both looking to avenge their playoff exits to Lumen Christi and Chelsea a season ago. The Dreadnaughts tout high-scoring Brosch and Matt Stirling, Washtenaw County’s top point-earner with 28 goals and 30 assists, and open against a Lumen Christi team that went 11-1 in Capital Area Activities Conference play. Lumen Christi eliminated Dexter in double-overtime last season. Gabriel Richard is on the heels of its best regular season (16-6) in program history and hopes to add to the ‘W’ column against a playoff-tested Chelsea club. If the finals yield a bout between rivals Chelsea and Dexter, the Bulldogs hold the psychological edge behind 2-1 and 4-0 regular season wins this season.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Dexter.

Kaleb Roedel is a sports writer for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734)623-2562 and e-mailed at kalebroedel@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kaleb_R.