While some teams turn the page to a new era, others, like Bristol Eastern and Plainville, will look to continue on their current story, which still has them among the top teams in the state.

Here is the outlook for each of the 11 local squads as they get ready to head into into Thursday’s season openers:

NEW BRITAIN

Head coach: Garth Lawrence (4th season)

Last year: 8-5-3, lost in first round of Class LL state tournament

Key losses: Adam Gottner, Kevin Gottner, Sebastian Kus, Konrad Piechota, John Morell, Abdul Jallaha, Minel Mehmedovic, Patryk Pupkowski, Jerry Chungong, Yassine Chefchaouni

Key returnees: Max Szczepanik, Del Ama Gonzalo, Yurig Bilous, Adnwel Samlon, Shevon Teraille, Davoy Samuels, Cameron Naples, Ethan Roy, Faith Dowou, Michael Ruthowski

Outlook: What a turnaround last year was for the Hurricanes program, reaching the state tournament with a winning record after winning just four games the previous year. But two key pillars of that rebuild in Adam Gottner and John Morell are gone, leaving behind the void of two all-conference contributors, including a four-time all-conference winner in Gottner, who was one of the best goalkeepers in the area again last year. We’ll see if New Britain can fill those gaps and continue its upward trend.

BRISTOL CENTRAL

Head coach: Nate Jandreau (5th season)

Last year: 9-5-2 record, lost in Class L quarterfinals

Key losses: Adam Jones, David Bowes, Diego Naranjo, Andrew Oren, Danny Gaudoin

Key returnees: Mark Palma, Carson Rivoira, Hayden Caudill, Becket Hennessey, Charlie Pittman, Xavier Browne

Newcomers to watch: Matthew Beaucar, Umar Malick, Ethan Crumrine, Tyler D’Agostino

Outlook: The Rams have reached the state quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons, and will now have to make up for a load of talent and leadership lost to graduation, especially Jones, Bowes, Naranjo and Oren, four all-conference captains who accounted for 32 of the team’s 49 goals last year. Palma and Rivoira will be asked to step into leadership roles as they enter their third year of varsity action, and so far, Jandreau likes what he sees.

“The team as a whole has had a very positive preseason,” Jandreau said. “Their work ethic and positivity have carried over from practice to practice even during these difficult times. A strength going into the season looks like our connectivity to one another. People seem to be very much in tune with how we would like to play.”

BRISTOL EASTERN

Head coach: Bill Sweet (51st season)

Last year: 14-0-2, lost in Class L quarterfinals

Key losses: Dante Costantiello, Jacob Woznicki, Drew Dauphinee, Patrick Regan, Jonathan Loja, Adam Poniatowski, Kyle Cyr

Key returnees: Nate DiLoreto, Elijah Parent, Dominik Femiak, Max Stavens, Luke Hammer, Brandon Greger, Joseph Verardi, Martin Wuesthoff

Outlook: The Lancers were flat-out dominant last season, going undefeated to earn the top seed in the Class L state tournament, while helping their long-time head coach to his 400th career victory. A big part of Eastern’s success was goalkeeper Nate DiLoreto, an all-conference selection who will be playing at Hartford next season.

The Lancers do lose a trio of all-conference talents in Dauphinee, Costantiello and Woznicki, but bring one back in Luke Hammer. Still, losing Woznicki and his school-record 25 goals last year will hurt, but if there’s any team that can sacrifice goal scoring and still win games, its Eastern, thanks to DiLoreto in net.

BERLIN

Head coach: Sal Parafati (7th season)

Last Year: 2-13-1

Key losses: Gabe Negrao, All-State defender

Key Returnees: Colby Nardelli, Adam Kozubal, Peter Cohen, Ethan Naumann

Outlook: It was a rough year for the Redcoats last season, and losing their All-State defender in Negrao won’t help their quest to turn things around, but Parafati believes last year’s struggles and the loss of Negrao hasn’t diminished excitement or expectations for 2020.

“We have a very positive and hard-working group of seniors that are ready to contribute and lead this team into a season that may look much different than the past, but the goals remain the same,” Parafati said. “We want to be able to compete at a high level and get back to a winning season.”

NEWINGTON

Head coach: Jeff Brunetti (10th season)

Last year: 8-6-2, lost in first round of Class LL state tournament

Key losses: Trey Sadler, Nick Cox, Evan Sanford, Youssef Khadrani, Allesandro DiPaola, Sebastian Wojnarowski, Ryan Saindon

Key returnees: Alexander Ford, Daniel Ellis, Christian Amaral, Reed Campbell

Outlook: Newington lost a pair of all-conference talents in Sadler and Khadrani, but it does bring back an all-conference selection in Campbell, who highlights the returning core for Newington.

Cox logged plenty of minutes in net for Newington, and after losing all-conference goalkeeper Jack DeGirolamo the year before, it will be another season to figure things out in net.

SOUTHINGTON

Head coach: Austin Magaro (1st season)

Last year: 3-10-3

Key losses: Joe Tellerico (CB), Marek Kryzanski (CM), Ryan Daddona (CAM)

Key returnees: Cooper Burdette (senior-CB), Mitch Messina (senior-CM), Cole Marek (senior-ST), Trevor Sousa (junior-CDM), Ryan Salzillo (junior-RB), Liam Schroeder (junior-LW), Shane Sullivan (junior-CB), Matt Morgan (junior-CM), Ryan Lunn (junio -GK).

Possible newcomers to watch: Alex Murgueitio (senior-ST), Derek Gajewski (sophomore-RW)

Outlook: With a new head coach leading the Blue Knights, could this be the year the team makes it back to the postseason for the first time since 2017? Given the likely event that each team is given a postseason opportunity due to the new schedule, that will likely be the case, and Magaro believes the unique format will have some other interesting effects as well.

“Playing in the regional cohorts brings back the feeling of playing in some of the older CCC’s when I was on the field, but should also bring a nice local-rivalry-feel to the matches,” Magaro said.

PLAINVILLE

Head coach: Tim Brown

Last year: 9-6-1, lost in Class M semifinals

Key losses: Luis Arango, Brady Beausoliel, Reno Lausier, Logan Miller, Jens Wadehn, Nate Cyr, Joe Page, Jacob Pierce, Matt Stanczykiewicz, Jared Serrano, Joe Raimondi

Key returnees: Pat Gryczewski, Gavin Bravado, Corey Rexinger McConnel, Nate Masco, Tanner Rau, Tucker Rau, Trevor Rau

Newcomers to watch: Avery Palma

Outlook: The Blue Devils have recent success in their corner after winning it all in 2018 and reaching the semifinals last season, but there will be a lot to make up for this year after losing 11 players to graduation. Fortunately, Gryczewski is one of the returning players, and the Hartford-bound All-State talent will likely be a force for Plainville once again this year as they look to continue their stay among the top teams in the state.

ST. PAUL

Head coach: Steven Kassoy (1st season)

Last year: 9-6-1, lost in first round of Class S state tournament

Key losses: Jack Noli, Ethan Rembish, Luke Hines, Patrick Carbone

Key returnees: Patirck Russo, Daniel Bond, Joseph Conroy, Joseph D’Orso, Tristan Gambuzza

Outlook: The Falcons will have a lot of goal scoring to make up for with Ethan Rembish graduating, as the three-time all-conference selection finished his career with 32 goals. Luke Hines was another quality scorer that will have to be replaced for St. Paul to have another winning year, but with returning contributors like Daniel Bond, the Falcons could very well remain above .500 in the shortened season.

INNOVATION

Head coach: Bryan DelaCruz (1st season)

Last year: 8-8, lost in first round of Class S state tournament

Key losses: Clinton “CJ” Allen, Alonzo Hill, Radon McGregor

Key returnees: Adriel Colon, Lazgin Fadli Mnala, Samuel Moreira, Arnez Falcon, Elmer Escobar

Possible newcomers to watch: Giancarlos Posadas, Bryson De La Cruz

Outlook: The Ravens have a new head coach at the helm in DelaCruz, and he will have a chance to get very familiar with Innovation’s opponents in a hurry. The Ravens play Vinal Tech, Goodwin Tech and Wilcox Tech all twice within the team’s first seven games, which will be an interesting wrinkle in the team’s quest to break out above the .500 mark this year.

GOODWIN TECH

Head coach: Ron Murray (4th season)

Last year: 7-7-2, lost in first round of Class M state tournament

Key losses: Jordan Gills, Kenny Hemenway, Edgar Calixto

Key returnees: Christian Guzman

Outlook: The Gladiators once again reached the state tournament in 2019, but they’ll be forced to replace their goalkeeper Calixto, who was an honorable mention for the CTC’s all-conference team. Guzman was also on that list, and will be one of the top returning players for Goodwin Tech.

TERRYVILLE

Head coach: Ryan McAdoo (3rd season)

Last year: 3-13-0

Key losses: Evan Coviello, Devonne Dao, Jamison Kulesa, Dana Mazur, Devon McLellan, Colby Rheault, Luis Rosario, Aidan Rusiecki, Jacob Toth, Jacob Zappone

Key returnees: Levi Avolt, Daniel Barrett, Nick Corsi, Devin Dao, Brandyn DeMayo, Owen Mantono, Dylan Matulis, Carlos Santiago

Outlook: The Kangaroos continued to be a team on the rebuild under McAdoo, winning three games for the second straight season. Terryville ended its 2018 season on a positive note, winning the majority of its games down the stretch, but it didn’t translate to 2019. The team looks to turn that around in 2020.