AnnArbor.com's third of seven winter sports previews takes a look at Washtenaw County's boys hockey teams.

DJ Aben (jr., F), Saline: Aben led the Hornets last year in points with three goals and 15 assists and helped Saline win a Southeastern Conference Red and Division 1 regional championships.

Brad Hepler (jr., F), Chelsea: As a sophomore, Hepler led a senior-heavy Chelsea team with 40 points (15 goals, 25 assists), helping the Bulldogs reach a Division 3 semifinal.

Zach Reinholt (sr., D), Pioneer: Reinholt has been a mainstay for the Pioneer defense, and will continue to give opposing offenses fits in his final year.

Ian Weisenberg (jr., F), Dexter: Weisenberg will be looking to help fill the skates of Dexter’s high-scoring senior. The junior had 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) in 24 games last year.

CHELSEA BULLDOGS It won’t be easy for the Bulldogs to top last season, which included the program’s first state semifinal appearance. However, the pieces are in place to give it a shot. Chelsea returns two of its top scorers in juniors Brad Hepler and Joe Hewitt, has veterans across its lines and efficient goaltending.

Coach: Don Wright (11th year) Last season: 14-13-2, SEC White champion and Division 3 state semifinalist. Key returners: Anthony Catalina (jr.,D), Brad Hepler (jr., F), Joe Hewitt (jr., F), Dylan Laidlaw (sr., D), Steve Lesko (sr., D), Jacob Ryan (so., F). Key newcomer: Connor Carry (so.). Strength: Experience. The Bulldogs return 12 players from last season’s team that ended up in an MHSAA final four. Weakness: Despite having a bulk of experience, the Bulldogs are a fairly young team with only five seniors. Coach Don Wright says: “League games are always extremely important. We’re always looking to win those games.”

DEXTER DREADNAUGHTS The Dreadnaughts lost two of the area’s top scorers in Matt Stirling (64 points) and John Brosch (51) to graduation. So it’s no secret that Dexter has big skates to fill. With the Lincoln-Milan program folding, the Dexter will be Chelsea’s biggest threat in the run for the SEC White championship.

Coach: Gary Howell (5th year) Last season: 13-11-1, lost in Division 3 pre-regional. Key returners: Andrew Erber (sr., D), John Grover (sr., F), Evan Sanford (sr., F), Max Waldrup (sr., D), Ian Weisenberg (jr., F). Key newcomers: Blake Miller (so., F), Cameron Rooks (jr., G), Garrett Weng (fr., G). Strength: Veteran defensive core. Weakness: Inconsistent offense. Coach Gary Howell says: “Our scoring and goaltending is unproven. We like our guys, but need to see them do well in games.”

FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD FIGHTING IRISH Last year, Gabriel Richard had eight seniors who accounted for 70 percent of the team’s scoring. Naturally, scoring is a big question mark for the Irish this winter. Defensively, the Irish return three-year starter Colin McMahon and a duo of senior defenders, Mark Theisen and Tyler Staub, who will lead a run for a Catholic High School League crown.

Coach: Tom O’Brien (3rd year) Last season: 15-7-3; lost to Chelsea in districts. Key returners: Anthony Lupi (jr., D), Colin McMahon (sr., G), Tyler Staub (sr., D), Mark Theisen (sr., D). Key newcomers: Ryan Maron (fr., G), Ryan McNulty (so., F), Nick O’Brien (so., F). Strength: Defense. The Irish return five defensemen and two goalies that started or saw significant action last season. Weakness: Lack of experience and scoring. Coach Tom O’Brien says: “We’re very young on the first and second lines up front. However, all players return with at least a year of high school hockey experience.”

HURON RIVER RATS The River Rats had an historic season last year, winning their first regional title since the early 1990s, and are hoping to build on that success this winter. Huron did lose three all-league seniors, including last year’s AnnArbor.com Player of the Year, goalie Luke Dwyer, but returns significant contributors from its regional title team, a group that also swept rival Pioneer for the first time since 1990.

Coach: Bill DeGroot (4th year) Last season: Regional champions. Key returners: Rob Keedy (sr., F), Oliver Owens (sr., D), Gabe Ruel (sr., G). Key newcomers: Glen Camfield (fr., D), River Morse (fr., F), Ryan Silvester (so., D). Strength: Defense. Coach DeGroot said moving the puck up the ice from the defensive zone is a strongpoint for Huron. Weakness: Scoring has been the overriding question mark for Huron. Coach Bill DeGroot says: “Our goal is to peak at the right time. We have a regional championship to defend and that’s what we want to do.”

PIONEER PIONEERS Last season was a down year for the Pioneers, who were younger and more inexperienced than in years past. And it didn’t help that cross-town rival Huron swept the Pioneers for the first time in two decades. But, with veteran goalie Spencer Peck and a lineup of senior defenders, led by Zach Reinholt and Ben Silvers, Pioneer shouldn’t be on its heels as much this season as long as goal scoring can complement its stingy defense.

Coach: Steve Armstrong (17th year) Last season: 6-19; lost in pre-regional to Huron. Key returners: Joe Chronis (sr., F), Spencer Peck (jr., G), Zach Reinholt (sr., D), Ben Silvers (sr., D). Key newcomers: Brice Brown (so., D), Louis Marr (so., F), Anthony Moran (so., F). Strength: Experience, especially defensively. Pioneer returns its starting goalie, Spencer Peck, and a host of veteran defenders. Weakness: Lack of go-to scorers. Outlook: Pioneer has already penciled in two six-goal games this season, so the scoring question appears to be being answered. The Pioneers should be in the hunt for an SEC title if they stay healthy. Coach Steve Armstrong says: “We have a great deal more experience than last season. But we have no proven goal scorer … yet.”

SALINE HORNETS Saline, which typically carries four or more lines, has low numbers this season. The Hornets are hoping to make up for that with their experience, which includes a slew of returnees from last year’s Division 1 regional title team. Anchoring the defense will be senior goalie Connor Jennings.

Coach: Drew Denzin (8th year) Last season: Saline was SEC Red champs and Division 1 regional champs, finishing with a 14-11-4 record. Key returners: Rocco Currunker (sr., D), Connor Jennings (sr., G), James Olson (jr., F), Alex Stowe (sr., D). Key newcomers: Dino Tzavaras (so., D). Strength: Defense and goaltending. Weakness: Finishing during scoring opportunities. Coach Drew Denzin says: “We are smaller in terms of numbers this year. We’re still trying to find our way in terms of who’s going to fill roles on offense and defense.”

WILLOW RUN-BELLEVILLE-LINCOLN FLYERS With the folding of the Lincoln-Milan program, the Willow Run-Belleville team welcomed former Lincoln members to make for a three-school co-op team this season. With that, the Flyers are required to opt out of participating in the MHSAA playoffs for a year.

Coach: Scott Heister (12th year) Last season: 9-12 (as Willow Run-Belleville); lost in pre-regionals to Huron. Key returners: Justin Armstrong (sr., D), Austin Basnaw (sr., G), Kyle Gibbs (sr., D), Alex Porzondek (sr., F). Key newcomers: Josh Cassel (sr., F), Justin McComas (so., F). Strength: Puck handling. Weakness: Defense. The Flyers return just one defenseman from last year’s team. Coach Scott Heister says: “My goals going into the season are to be able to play with the team that we’re playing against and be competitive for three periods.”