Playing in the Penguins Cup is nothing new to Mars and Seneca Valley.

How they get back there might be a little different.

Mars is the two-time defending Class A Penguins Cup champions and won the state championship last year. The Planets graduated only four seniors from that team and have seven double-digit goal scorers returning, along with third-year goaltender Tyler Stepke.

"We don't presume anything," Mars hockey publicist Keith Thomas said. "All we look for is maximum effort every time our skaters hit the ice."

Besides Stepke, top returnees for Mars, along with their goal totals from last year, are Elliott Tisdale (23), Nicholas Blaney (20), Blake Friday (16), Robert Sigurdsson (15), Austin Heakins (12), Russell Miller (11) and Tyler Thomas (10).

Mars recently won the 16-team St. Margaret Foundation preseason tournament under coach Steve Meyers, defeating Class AAA opponents Seneca Valley, Shaler, Bethel Park and Canon-McMillan along the way.

"We've had quality teams for some time now, dating back to when Steve was a player for us," Thomas said.

Seneca Valley reached the Class AAA Penguins Cup finals the last two years, losing heartbreakers to Shaler and Canon-McMillan, respectively.

The Raiders lost 14 seniors with two others — Ethan Martin and Taylor Wagner — opting to play elsewhere.

"We still expect to make a run," SV coach Denis Kirstein said. "We've got a couple of key additions that could serve as anchors to our team."

One is senior goaltender Mike Singel, the Raiders' netminder two years ago who played full time for the Pittsburgh Hornets last year. Also joining the team is center Brandon Wehner, son of former Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman and current broadcaster John Wehner.

"Mike should be one of the toughest goalies in the league and he needs to be our best player on the ice every game," Kirstein said. "Brandon has soft hands, carries himself well and is always in the right position."

Butler is putting a varsity team on the ice for the first time in three years. New coach Brad Posey plans to play a fast-paced, aggressive game out there.

"We'll emphasize moving the puck, but we'll be defensive-minded as well," Posey said. "We've got some goal scorers and nice defensemen."

Tanner Gilliland will center Troy Double and Cody Bachman on the Tornado's top line, though Posey will mix and match a lot of forwards. Jake Tomasovic is another quality forward.

Jake Whann and Levi Rodgers head the defensive corps.

Knoch is coming off a 14-8 season under coach Joe Honzo and returns 11 players from 2009-10.

"We will need to be defensive-minded." Honzo said. "Last year's team featured strong team defense, as we allowed the second fewest goals in the league.

"We will not be as explosive offensively. We have in Matt Eshelman, Shayne Hennessey, Ty Honzo and Mike Rykaczewski — four kids who have played at the junior level or AAA. We will lean heavily on them."

Freeport (7-13-1) reached the Class A playoffs last year, but lost its top two scorers: Neil DeCroo (23 goals) and Shane Gallagher (35 points).

Goaltender Cody Lee (3.08 GAA) returns and coach Dave Hepler is excited about his younger players.

"Our strength is the overall quality of our hockey players," Hepler said.

Senior returnees include defenseman Dalton Moore (4 goals, 14 points) center Jonathan Hill (5-13) and winger Travis Hill (5-11). Junior Nick Spangler and sophomore John Bird join Moore in anchoring the Yellowjackets' defense.