BUTLER TWP — High school hockey season doesn’t begin until October.

Butler hockey began three weeks ago — and it’s already going strong.

Former Golden Tornado defenseman Mike Guentner was hired as the varsity team’s interim head coach midway through last year’s 1-21 campaign. He was officially named head coach after the season.

“My philosophy and focus will be on individual player development,” Guentner said. “I want to give our players as many opportunities as possible to make it to the next level.”

If that next level is college — particularly Division I — a stint in junior hockey may have to come first.

“It’s all about exposure,” Guentner said. “The kids need to be seen.”

Butler goaltender Logan Rothbauer recently played for the Central Region in Pennsylvania’s Keystone Games. Defenseman CJ Campbell and forward Mack Walters played for the PIHL’s sophomore all-star team at the Summer Showcase Hockey Night in Boston last month.

Rothbauer had a goals-against average of more than 8.00 last season, but he stopped 25 to 28 shots per game.

“It made me a better goalie,” Rothbauer said of facing multiple shots. “Coach (Guentner) advised me to try out for the Keystone Games and it was a great experience for me. My play was exposed to different players from different areas. It was a good time.”

Campbell and Walters were among 20 PIHL players selected to make the trip from approximately 35 who tried out. The PIHL squad went 2-3-1 in six games in Boston.

“We got to play against some high-caliber competition that we’re just not going to see around here,” said Walters, who scored a goal in the tournament. “It was a great experience.”

Campbell was selected as an all-star in that event and was invited back for more competition against older players.

Tanner Gilliland, last year’s leading scorer with 17 goals for the Tornado, headed to New York City this weekend for a tryout with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. Freeport’s Cole Hepler is the only other member of the Pittsburgh Viper Stars to be invited to that tryout.

The USHL is a Tier I junior hockey league.

“I’m going just to get my name out there,” Gilliland said. “There will be a lot of older kids there.

“If I do get selected for the team, I’m going. That would set me up for a college scholarship and that’s what I want.”

Guenter is taking 20 Butler hockey players and his coaching staff to Jamestown, N.Y., next week for a three-day camp with the Jamestown Ironmen of the North American Hockey League, a Tier II junior league team.

“Seth Wolfe, a former Butler goalie, was the goalie coach for them and helped set this up for us,” Guentner said. “That camp will be extremely helpful to our program.”

Rothbauer had a private goalie training session with Wolfe earlier this off-season.

“He helped me with my technical base and my confidence,” Rothbauer said. “He also gave me a weight-lifting and stretching program that will help me improve.”

Butler’s first on-ice practice was three weeks ago. The Tornado spent their first day in the weight room Thursday.

“Butler hockey hadn’t done any weight training for at least five years or so,” Guentner said.

The coach said Butler is the only PIHL team returning its top-two scorers from last season. Troy Double scored 16 points and returns along with Gilliland.

“Since we’ve been emphasizing player development, we’ve gotten five former Butler players back in the fold,” Guentner said. “I recognize the fact that not all of the good hockey players in Butler play for the high school team and I’m trying to bridge that gap.”

Gilliland believes he’s succeeding.

“We’re going to surprise a lot of people this year,” Gilliland said. “I see us finishing at .500, at least.”

Walters said a positive attitude is surrounding Butler hockey that hasn’t been there before.

“Everybody’s participating in all of the offseason workouts and practices, even the ones that aren’t mandatory,” he said. “It’s good to see.”