Butler's goaltender this season has never played ice hockey before.

The Golden Tornado hope to make his first season — and that of new head coach Chris Sakolsky — a memorable one.

Nick Farmerie, a junior, takes over between the pipes for Butler this season. The Tornado, coming off a 12-7-1 campaign that ended in the first round of the Penguins Cup Class AAA playoffs, open the 2016-17 season at 7 p.m. Monday against Cathedral Prep at the Ice Connection.

“Nick's energy is filtering down to the players on the ice in front of him,” Sakolsky said. “They want to play well for him.

“He's very respectful, soft-spoken and has a short memory, which is good for a goalie. He's always working to get better. He studies the game hard off the ice as well.”

On the ice, Butler brings back 16-goal scorer Trevor Gilliand at forward to anchor the scoring attack. Ronan Miller and Garet Banner are working as his linemates right now.

Sam Gross, a center who scored seven goals and 11 assists last year, has been selected as team captain. Ben Rodgers (10 goals, 12 assists) and Gilliland are the alternates.

“We wanted our captain to be a guy who carries a lot of influence in the locker room and that's Sam,” Sakolsky said.

The Tornado have some young players coming up who will likely contribute this year, most notably freshman Jerome Oliver, who scored 39 goals and 57 points in middle school a year ago, and forward Troy Gilliland.

“Middle school hockey is more of a finesse game with no hitting allowed,” Sakolsky said. “Our freshmen will go through an adjustment period there, but we definitely have some young talent coming up.”

Butler finished second in the St. Margaret Tournament during the preseason.

“We played well in that event and it was a good experience for us,” Sakolsky said. “But we're just beginning the process here. We want to do things the right way and play as a team.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Anthony Raco

Last Year: 11-9-0, lost in first round of Penguins Cup Class AAA playoffs.

The Raiders lost standout Alex Crilley to graduation, but Raco anticipates a more balanced attack this time around.

“We want to play to a system, not improv hockey out there,” the coach said. “We've got a few kids who can put the puck in the net.

“We're emphasizing to the kids that it's all about points. An assist is every bit as valuable as a goal.”

Chris Lipnicky (13 goals, 13 assists) is the top returning scorer for SV. Tyler Murply scored 10 goals last season and Nick Raible had two goals and 15 points as a defenseman.

Dylan Sloat (7-3, 2.45 GAA) returns as the starting goaltender.

“Dylan is solid in there and we know we can count on him,” Raco said. “Logan Johnson is a skilled goaltender on the roster, too.”

Seneca Valley won the St. Margaret preseason tournament, “a definite confidence builder,” Raco said.

The Raiders open the season at 9 p.m. today against Armstrong at the Baierl Complex.

Mars

Coach: Steve Meyers

Last Year: 15-5-2, lost to Bishop Canevin in the Penguins Cup Class AA title game

Meyers returns as a veteran coach for the Planets, who dominated in Class A before moving up to AA last season.

Tyler Spreng returns as one of the top netminders in the PIHL. He posted a 5-2 record with three shutouts and a 2.04 goals-against average last year.

Noah Raymundo, a 19-goal scorer, is one of three double-digit goal scorers returning for Mars. Keaton Hanna scored 14 goals and William Scurci tallied 10 goals a year ago.

Mars hosts Plum at 9 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Baierl Complex.

Freeport

Coach: Ryan Cooper

Last Year: 16-5-1, lost in first round of Penguins Cup Class A playoffs

Cooper takes over as Yellowjacket coach and admitted “we have to fill in a lot of gaps.”

Freeport graduated three of its top four scorers from 2015-16, but return stellar forward Robbie Reichenbaugh. He was third in the PIHL Class A scoring race with 29 goals and 71 points last season.

Kyle Hazelett (7 goals) and Tanner Hill (5 goals) are the next most productive returnees.

“We need to develop two solid lines there. That's what helped us last year,” said Cooper, a then assistant coach. “Rob is a great player, but he can't be a one-man team.”

Case Haberstroh will be Reichenbaugh's left wing with Ryan Giori and Alex Colflesh rotating on the right wing.

Freeport is breaking in two new goaltenders in Greg Smith and Morgan Penn. Both are underclassmen and will see plenty of action.

“The goal here is always the playoffs,” Cooper said. “Things will come together as the season goes on.”

The Yellowjackets dropped their season opener, 7-0, to Franklin Regional Monday and return to action Oct. 13 at Serra Catholic.