As the puck drops on the 49th BCHL season Friday, Black Press papers throughout the Interior and North teamed up to provide previews into their respective teams. It all begins with the defending BCHL and RBC Cup champs.

1. Vernon Vipers

Key returnees: F Connor Jones (19-41-60), F Kellen Jones (15-37-52), F Braden Pimm (24-30-54), F Mike Collins (25-25-50), D Kevin Kraus (1-18-19), D Adam Thompson (7-15-22), G Graeme Gordon (14-6, 2.92 GAA)

Rookie Sensations: F Dylan Walchuk earned Kootenay International Junior Hockey League rookie-of-the-year with the champion Nelson Leafs. He was the only rookie in top-10 scoring. F Drew George led the Notre Dame Hounds last season in scoring with 27-46-73 in 43 games. He helped the Hounds capture the Midget Tier 1 Telus Cup Western Regional Championship.

Strengths: The Vipers have 13 returnees from the team that hoisted the Royal Bank Cup national title last season. With the additions of Walchuk, George and Jonathan Milhouse, the Snakes will once again have four lethal lines up front.

Coach’s quote: Mark Ferner: “We feel like our core group is coming back as far as forwards are concerned. We know that we lost a lot on the back end with our veterans, but there are players that have come and made impressions. One thing with that hockey team last year, they certainly like each other, they like being around each other, and the effort right from day one was second to none. That’s all about culture and I think we’re on the right track.”

2. Salmon Arm SilverBacks

Key returnees: C Mark Zengerle (31-62-93), F Travis Statchuk (8-15-23), F Bobby Lipsett (11-16-27), F David Killip (8-6-14), G Tony Ierfino (18-6-0-0, 2.57, 4 SO).

Rookie sensations: D Jagger Dirk is just 16 but will play major minutes on the blueline and coaches hope he’ll be a cornerstone for years to come. D Charlie Vasaturo is a U.S. prep product and brings size and strength playing a stay-at-home style. F Matt Cassidy should contribute offensively and comes highly recommended from former ’Backs sniper Conor Morrison. F Josh Manson brings speed, size and a leadership pedigree having been a captain on his Prince Albert, Sask. midget squad last year.

Strengths: Salmon Arm has improved speed up front and there will be constant competition among forwards to stay in the top-six. Lipsett should thrive being the first Salmon Arm native to be captain. If Zengerle finds chemistry with new linemates, he and Statchuk will fill the scoresheet. New coach Matt Hughes and GM Rylan Ferster upgraded the skill on the blueline which should make for a potent power play.

Coach’s quote: Matt Hughes: “We’re going to put pressure on the puck and force guys to make plays under pressure. We want to utilize our speed and make people play at our pace. We want to be a consistent group that peaks at the right time of the year – the playoffs.”

3. Penticton Vees

Key returnees: F Denver Manderson (15-37-52), F Garrett Milan (25-32-57), F Ryan Viselli (20-32-52), F Logan Johnston (2-3-5), F Joey Holka (3-8-11) D Derik Johnson (0-7-7), D Matt Paltridge (1-15-16) Sean Bonar (11-6-0, 2.45 GAA).

Rookie Sensations: F Beau Bennett has NCAA school eyes on him. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward scored 25 goals and 58 points in 46 games with the L.A. midget AAA Kings. Alex Szczechura helped the Brantford Junior B Eagles win the Sutherland Cup. He torched goalies for 70 goals and 163 points in 65 playoff and regular-season games. On the blueline, Byron Sorensen, Bo Dolan, Isaac MacLeod, brother of former Vee, Alex, Joseph Laleggia and Luke Curadi join veterans Paltridge and Johnson. Curadi brings a physical presence at 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, while Laleggia will help inject offence to the powerplay. MacLeod helped Nelson win the KIJHL championship.

Strengths: The Vees have nine returnees who know what coach Fred Harbinson expects. The Vees coach likes the fact that players are grasping system play quickly and are performing without having to think. The forward group is strengthened with Manderson, Hayden Trupp, Eric Filiou and Ben Sexton.

Coach’s quote: Fred Harbinson: "We're not just about making flashy plays. We want to use our speed to create turnovers in the offensive zone. We want to pressure teams, finish our checks."

4. Westside Warriors

Key Returnees: F Trevor Bailey (20-39-59), C Cam Reid (12-28-40), D Michael Quinn (6-17-23) and G Kevin Jebson (.909 save percentage). Reid was drafted by Nashville in the summer while Bailey should step up his offense in his third and final year with the Warriors. Quinn led the Warriors in playoff scoring from the blueline and Jebson is a workhorse in net who should be one of the top masked men in the league.

Rookie Sensations: Forward Colton Sissons won't turn 16 until November but should see considerable time coming out of the Vancouver Giants Major Midget program. D Izaak Berglund is an offensive blueliner already committed to college while local Max French has made the jump from major midget.

Strengths: As a 20-year-old Jebson should give the Warriors a chance to win most nights while a solid group of returning second year players provides the Warriors with good depth. Reid was expected to be off to university but his return gives the Warriors a big (6-foot-3) and talented centre.

Coach's quote: Darren Yopyk enters his first year with the Warriors: “I like our depth up front, I think we have four lines we can roll. We have experience on defense and I think out goalie is amongst the best in the league for sure.”

5. Trail Smoke Eaters

Key Returnees: F Travis St. Denis (15-22-37), D Steve Koshey (3-20-23), D Graeme Strukoff (1-11-12), F Riley Loyst (8-7-15), F Nick Sandor (14-28-42).

Rookie Sensations: New to the Smokies, Colin Lidster originally from Kamloops, is a 6-foot-4, 224 pound forward who played with the Salmon Arm SilverBacks and is a hard-hitting player who can skate well and get the puck to the net. Matt Wilkins name has been passed around Trail since word spread he was considering coming to the Smokies. He was the top goal scorer per game in the KIJHL last season coming from the Kimberley Jr. Dynamiters. Sam Mellor is a 17-year-old “goal-scoring playmaker” also from the Dynamiters. He tallied 19-21-40 in 51 games played in 2008-09. Devon Murtagh will be a good addition in the Smokies net. He’s 6-foot-3 190 pound and is 14-6-0 career with the Westside Warriors and Victoria Grizzlies.

Strengths: The depth of the Smokies lines will show on the ice this year with each player bringing a skill set that will compliment the others. Returning captain Paul Mailey is a good fit to lead the team, being an all-around player who can score, hit, get back on the defence and drop the gloves if needed. Tye Lewis is a good new addition to the team as well. The 5-foot-10, 175 pound forward will bring some fresh energy and experience to the lineup.

Coach's quote: “We’ve got some great young kids coming to the team this year and with the experienced veterans to show them the ropes I think we will have a great mix.”

“I could go anywhere on the list and name off the skills we have with the team, they’re all really good young players.”

“I like our size up and down the bench, we’ve got real hard working forwards and a solid defensive line-up.”

6. Quesnel Millionaires

Key returnees: The Mills moved a fistful of 20 year-olds to make room for new faces, but have retained a solid core of veterans. Trevor Hertz starts his third BCHL season as team captain. The 20-year old netted 36 goals and 72 points last year, splitting the season between the Mills and the Victoria Grizzlies, following a 56-point rookie year with the Mills. Glen Watson, coach of the Mills, is counting on Hertz to provide leadership on and off the ice. Watson will also look to defencemen Eliot Raibl (25 points/40 games) and Sam Higgins (17 points; from Victoria Grizzlies) to lead a young defensive squad. The Mills also acquired 20 year-old Taylor Holst (31 points) from the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Rookies: The Millionaires will rely on several rookies to make the adjustment to Junior A. At the top of the list are 18-year-old twins Bond and Brendan Hawryluk who tallied 68 and 69 points, respectively with the Peace River Royals of the Alberta Rural Midget AAA league. The brothers should fit in well as they have played for Watson before. Homegrown 16-year-old Spencer Graboski, selected to the short-list for the under-17 Team Pacific hockey team, is sure to be a crowd favourite.

Strengths: After a tough 2008/09 campaign, the signing of Watson in the off-season can be viewed as somewhat of a coup for Quesnel. Watson brings a ton of playoff experience, including the finals of the Royal Bank Cup, Allan Cup, as well as MJHL and SJHL championships. The Mills are counting on a mobile defensive corps for offence, but with a GAA of 4.5 - second highest in the league last year, the defence will have to do a better job in their own end. If the Hawryluk brothers, Graboski and Tyler French develop as expected, the Mills could have four solid lines. The return of Hertz, along with the signing of Taylor Holst, should help the Millionaires improve on last season's 2.70 GFA.

Coach's quote: Glen Watson: "We're in a tough division with Vernon and Penticton. We want to make it into the pack behind them, get ourselves into a playoff spot. The team's starting to look like the way we want it to look, we have to change our identity as a team."

7. Prince George Spruce Kings

Key returnees: F Sammy Muchalla (21-32-53), F Andrew Pickering (12-19-31), F Joe Morgan (22-17-39), D Wes McLeod (6-24-30) and D Justin Fillion (5-16-21)

Rookie sensations:F Jeff Earnest joins the Spruce Kings from the highly-touted San Jose Junior Sharks hockey program. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Whittier, Alaska put up some impressive numbers with the Midget U18 AAA Sharks team last season. In 58 games, he collected 17 goals, 31 assists and 76 penalty minutes.

Murrieta, Calif. native Kyle Manlow joins the squad after spending the 2008-09 season with the San Diego Gulls of the Tier 3 Junior A Western States League. Manlow was second in Gulls scoring with 36-26-62 in 51 games. Manlow, Earnest and Williams Lake native Luke Hannas (7-10-17 in 25 GP with the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League's Cariboo Cougars) add extra bite to the Spruce Kings' attack.

Strengths: Before McLeod elected to stay with the Spruce Kings one more season, the team's defence appeared average. His decision to return to Prince George, putting the start of his Division 1 career with the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves on hold one more year, turns the Spruce Kings' defence into one of its strengths. McLeod's supporting cast on the blue line includes three returnees from the 2008-09 campaign – Justin Fillion, Josh Pineiro and Geoff Morgan. The Spruce Kings solidified their goaltending in the offseason when they acquired 20-year-old Evan Smith in June. A Penticton native, Smith spent the past two seasons with the Nanaimo Clippers and skated with his hometown Vees the previous two years. He's enjoyed success with winning organizations, and with no Division 1 scholarship yet, he's hungry to leave an impression in his final season of BCHL eligibility. As of last week, Alex Wright remained a possibility to come back. If he does, he will push Smith for a starter's position.

With the likes of Muchalla, Pickering, Morgan and off-season acquisition Brooks Robinson, the Spruce Kings have options to ice a formidable top line. But secondary scoring may be an issue. They're also smaller up front, and could be easier to push around with the likes of agitators Jordan Simpson and Matt Lees no longer with the team.

Coach's quote: Ed Dempsey: "Last year's team was a very good team. Obviously, we started with a lot of young guys at the beginning of last year, and by the end of the year we had developed into an excellent hockey club. The way of the world for us here in Prince George (is that) lots of times we have high turnover. The fact that we were able to move eight players along to the college routes – we didn't really expect that many to go – that's a good thing, so we'll just keep developing players and keep turning out good teams."

7. Merritt Centennials

Key Returnees: F Dustin Johnson (23-12-35), F Alex Valenti (22-15-37), F Colton Sobchak (11-18-29), D Steve Tresierra (5-19-24), D Brad Bourke (5-17-22)

Rookie Sensations: F Daniel Chang (Valencia, Calif.), F Silvan Harper (Vancouver), G Norbert Bizczsak (North Delta)

Strengths: The Forsythe brothers - head coach Dylan and general manager Tyler - bring a new look and feel to this Centennials team after an eight year Al Glendinning era. On paper, the Cents should be a lot stingier on defense with seven blueliners with BCHL experience. Off-season acquisitions include F Thomas Hardy (Burnaby Express), D Derek Hills and Ryne Bodger (Powell River Kings), D Jeff Zmurchyk (Trail Smoke Eaters). A complete overhaul of the front office and coaching staff has to be worth a small shot in the arm. Goaltending and scoring are the big question marks.

Coach's Quote: Tyler Forsythe: "Our aim is to compete each and every night, to be disciplined, to play responsibly and with controlled aggression, and to make the playoffs."

9. Williams Lake Timberwolves

Key returnees: Despite rejoining the BCHL after a two-year absence, the Timberwolves will be looking to establish themselves as a factor in the league's Interior Conference immediately. Many of the team's players are making a big step up to the Junior A level from Junior B and Major Midget teams province-wide, and only time will tell just how ready they are to compete at a higher level.

Rookie sensations: F Trent Murdoch has the hands and skill-set to make an immediate impact in the BCHL. The son of Timberwolves' general manger Geoff Murdoch, Trent sat second atop the 2008-2009 scoring leaders in the VIJHL playing for the Comox Valley Glacier Kings netting 27 goals and 65 point. Joining him from the Glacier Kings is G Kirk Croswell, who led all VIJHL netminders sporting a 91.85 save percentage, F Jason Diehl finished among the top 20 scorers in the KIJHL with 29 goals and 57 points with Columbia Valley Rockies, F Ryan Stanimir was 11th in scoring in the PIJHL, sniping 19 goals and 58 points with the Ridge Meadows Flames.

Strengths: Perhaps the Timberwolves' strengths will pour from their biggest weakness — inexperience. Head coach Dave Dupas is in the unique position of having the ability to mold the rookie squad into roles and play-styles he sees will most benefit the club. However, one thing is for certain. The Timberwolves will be one of the most well-conditioned teams in the league. Dupas has a background as a personal and physical trainer, and takes great pride in his teams being in shape and capable of going 110 per cent through 60 minutes of hockey.

Coach's quote: Dave Dupas: "My style is all about puck pursuit. It's pressure pucks all over the ice — d-zone, offensive zone, neutral zone — we're going to try to force teams into mistakes. It's going to be very aggressive, and we're going to have two guys deep most of the time trying to create turnovers. That's the team that we're going to try to be. The work ethic is non-negotiable. If you can get teams to work hard, and you mix in some guys that can score and some guys that can play defence, you don't have to be the expansion team that wins 10 games. We're not looking at it as the first year or two are throw-aways. We want to start going after teams and making a mark in the league."

Penticton Vees captain Denver Manderson hopes to lead his team to a BCHL championship, but they know it won’t be an easy feat.