Eastern Connecticut Eagles

Coach: Randy Craig (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. F Evan Tower, Sr. F Will Cannella, Sr. F Ashton Baltes, Sr. D Jake Verbridge, Sr. G Rylin Fowler, Jr. D Devyn Jordan, Jr. D Kyle Marino, So. D Anthony Gesino.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Ryan LoVetere, Sr. D Kyle Wright, Jr. F Steve Turchetta, Jr. D/F Miles Hinckley, So. F Cade Waters, So. F Quinten Olshan, So. F Kevin Yang.

Outlook: The Eagles are now the region's only high school hockey team after merging with the Redhawks and becoming a 10-school cooperative program: Fitch, East Lyme, Waterford, Wheeler, Stonington, Griswold, Montville, NFA, Bacon Academy and Killingly. Tower, The Day's All-Area Player of the Year last season, returns along with All-Area members Cannella, Marino and Fowler, who helped lead the Eagles to their second straight Nutmeg Conference championship. Turchetta, who earned All-Area honors as a member of the Redhawks, joins the co-op along with LoVetere and Wright. Said Craig: "With the addition of a few top tier players from the Redhawks, we should make a deep run in the playoffs this season." The Eagles, who play their home games at Connecticut College's Dayton Arena, open their season on Monday at home (6 p.m.) against Woodstock Academy.