CSHL quartet ready for the season

FLINT JR. GENERALS
Home arena: Iceland Arena
Head coach: George Dritsas
Last season: 17-27-1-0 (9th)
Back for more: Forwards Dalton Bates, Matt Cinader, Jake Harlick, Brandon Hogrefe, Ricky Jones and Ben McParlan, defensemen Trevor Troupe and Zack Warson and goaltender Tyler Stricker
Welcome: Assistant coaches Ben Guzak and John Vanbiesbrouck, defensemen Ryan Eby (trade with Metro), Mark Haynes (Michigan Jaguars), Mike Maciag (Little Caesars U-16), Nick Page (USA Eagles), Nathan Sheriff (Michigan Travelers), forwards Jeff Birk (Gaylord HS), Joe Camarata (St. Clair Shores Midget AA), Will Dawson (Compuware U-16), Ted Kernan, Dean Kmiecik (trade with Motor City), Joe McAuliffe (Flint Icelanders Midget), Bret Menten (L.A. Selects U-18), Drew Meyers (trade with Dubuque), Shane Olson (Michigan Ice Dogs Jr. C), Mark Riviera (Stonehill College, NCAA D-III), Nate Scurfield (Midland HS), Jonah Spurlin (Flint Powers HS) and Cody Thompson (Flushing HS) and goaltenders Nick O'Lewen, Karel Popper (Philadelphia, UJHL) and Jordie VanGaul (Belgium National U-17 Team)
Coach's comments: "The team, owned by Gale and Kelly Cronk, will most definitely be a team to deal with in the upcoming season. This hard-working group of young men has come together to form a team that will definitely be very competitive this year. Even though it was only preseason, the team is off to winning ways in handling Metro twice (August 22-23)." - Head coach George Dritsas

GRAND RAPIDS JR. OWLS
Home arena: Southside Community Ice Center
Head coach: Greg Geldart
Last season: 0-44-0-1 (12th)
Back for more: Forwards Mason Bohlinger, Mike Evans, Nathan Kranich and C.J. Tangen and defensemen Jacob Frein and Zach Runge
Welcome: Goaltenders Ben Belton (East Kentwood HS) and Nick Ceccolini (Metro Jets, CSHL), forwards Phil Klaas (Sun Prairie HS), Luke McCarthy (Manistee HS), Jordan Sabatino (Sharp Shooters U-18 AA), Anthony Wolfe (Culver Prep HS), Radney Ritchie (Soo Indians U-18) and defensemen Justin Bowyer (Lowell-Caledonia HS), Jack Garrettson (Mooretown Jr. C), Zane Scofield (Milwaukee Phoenix U-18), Josh Sellden (Team Michiana U-18) and John Starling (Heritage HS)
See ya: Goaltender Anthony Petrak (Davenport, ACHA), forwards John Cirone (Jamestown, NJHL), Bryan Costello (Robert Morris University, ACHA), Kyle McConnell (Minnesota Flying Aces Jr. A) and Chad Wade (Arizona, ACHA) and defenseman Kevin Akers (East Coast Eagles Jr. B)
Coach's comments: "With some experience under the belts of the returning players and the enthusiasm and work ethic displayed by the new players coming in, the Owls coaching staff is excited about the prospects of competing this year and look forward to a strong effort by all. The influx of new players adds a different dimension to the Owls and we are looking forward to the start of the new season." - Assistant coach and assistant GM Scott Runge

METRO JETS
Home arena: Lakeland Arena
Head coach: Jamie Hayden
Last season: 7-36-1-1 (11th)
Back for more: Defensemen Brett Grech, Steve Lockwood and Tyler Schofield and forwards Will Saley and Justin Vinson
Welcome: Forwards Michael Denston (Oakland Grizzlies U-18), Jonathon Elliott (Brother Rice HS), Mike Herter (Dexter HS), Tim Hooker, Chris Kienzle (Metro Moose Jr. C), Josh Magnan (Soo Eagles, NOJHL), Anthony Marrocco (Summit Plastics Midget AA), David Merkle (Kettering HS), Matt Moeller (Troy Sting U-16), Jesse Peterson (Troy Sting U-16), Joe Rutkowski (St. Clair Shores HS), Shane Wheatley (Northview HS) and Jonathan Wickersham (Summit Plastics Midget AA), defensemen Mike Corder (Mt. Clemens Midget AA), Dylan Mantay (Summit Plastics Midget AA), Vinnie Pietrangelo (Traverse City West HS), Steve Vandenberghe (De La Salle HS) and Matt Zacharias (Coffman HS) and goaltenders Anthony Griffore (Lansing Capitals Midget AA), R.J. Heath (Alexandria/Motor City, NAHL) and Ian Mercer (Honeybaked U-16)
See ya: Forwards Matt McCaig (Michigan-Dearborn, ACHA) and Adam Novack (Oakland, ACHA) and defensemen Jacob DeSano (Oakland, ACHA) and Jake Williams (Davenport, ACHA)
Coach's comments: "We are ahead of last year at this point and we are stronger in all three positions - goaltending, defense and forwards. Getting an NAHL-caliber goaltender in Heath and a quality young goaltender with Mercer will be huge to our success this season. Both guys will go out game in and game out and give a chance to win, as well as win us a few games by themselves. After the disappointing season last year, we knew we weren't going to bring many players back, but the guys we did bring back are working hard and are positive role models for all the new players. I think on defense we are much more mobile and solid - really nothing flashy back there. Grech will be the leader back there again, but with a solid group around him, I expect him to have a much better season with him not having to play 30-40 minutes a night like last year. Between the improved goaltending and better defensive group, we should greatly cut down on the number of goals against. The forwards have seemed to be grasping the defensive system very quickly and that has to be our main focus, keeping the puck out of our net this year. I think with Vinson and Saley back from last year and the addition of guys like Merkle, Magnan and Elliott, we will have enough offense to win hockey games and a pretty good group of young talent to fill out the roster led by role player like Moeller, Wickersham and Herter. I fully expect us to be in every game this year." - Head coach Jamie Hayden

MOTOR CITY CHIEFS
Home arena: Canfield Ice Arena
Head coach: Jeff Bond
Last season: 12-31-0-2 (10th)
Back for more: Defenseman Derek Kessler
Welcome: Bond, Jason Avedisuan (Motor City Chiefs Jr. C), David Defever (Howell HS), Conner Dresser (Motor City Chiefs Jr. C), Brandon Greulich (Motor City Chiefs Jr. C), Jake Koslakiewicz (Bozeman, NorPac), Anthony Lobstein (Michigan Travelers), Joel Majszak (Plymouth HS), Tyler Miller (Motor City Chiefs U-18), Andrew Theisen (Motor City Chiefs U-18), Cole Workman (Howell HS), Peter Wychocki (Motor City Chiefs Jr. C) and goaltenders Kory Rickermann (Illinois Frontenacs Jr. C), Zak Shaw (Notre Dame Prep HS) and Dan Wenner (Buffalo Stars Jr. B)
See ya: Forwards Zac Archer (Eastern Michigan, ACHA), Matt Casey (Florida Gulf Coast, ACHA), Shane Darrow (Ohio, ACHA), Shawn Flynn (Michigan State, ACHA), Jake Garrison (Kennesaw State, ACHA) and defensemen Brad Curtis (Michigan State, ACHA) and Ryan Shepherd (Eastern Michigan, ACHA)
Coach's comments: "This season's team will be a young, fast team that we would like to build upon for two years. We have very good leadership in having a seasoned junior defenseman in Jake Koslakiewicz and returning defenseman Derek Kessler. The Chiefs pride themselves as teaching puck possession and having the skill set to play a fast finesse-style game. The youngsters will have to adapt to the level of play quickly and be major contributors for the Chiefs to have a successful year. Goaltending should be a position that will have internal competition thought the year as the play of Shaw, Wenner and Rickermann improve. The Chiefs have built this team from within their own organization promoting four players from last year's Junior C team and three players from their Midget Major team." - Head coach Jeff Bond