The Marshall boys hockey team endured some unfamiliar struggles last year which resulted in an unfamiliar position in the Southwest Conference standings.

The Tigers entered last season as the team to beat in the Southwest Conference and once the final regular season game was played, Redwood Valley did just that.

"That's going to be our goal to get that (the conference title) back," said Marshall assistant head coach Scott Mellenthin. "It's important to us to win the conference. That's our first goal and we didn't get that done last year."

Marshall head coach Kori Pearson was unavailable for comment.

The Tigers lost their two leading goal scorers in Ryne Hanson and Danny Hansen, but with everyone else returning this year, Mellenthin said he remains confident the team can overcome the void of losing Hanson and Hansen.

"They were very good players and it's going to take a lot to replace them," said Mellenthin. "We really have a lot of people returning who have seen a lot of ice time over the last two seasons. That's really going to step up our expectations."

Senior forwards, and captains, Dereck Deutz and Jamie Linstrom will be relied upon to carry some of the offensive load for the Tigers, while also supplying some leadership for some of the younger players on the squad.

"We hope they will be able to fill the net a little bit," said Mellenthin. "We've relied on them the past couple of seasons for defensive help but they're going to have to change that role a little bit."

There will also be a few juniors who will be called upon to help the offense.

"CJ Haukom, Aaron Antony and Brian Willett have all shown that they can put the puck in the net," Mellenthin said.

The defense will be led by seniors Todd Pickthorn and Sean Marron, but captain Evan VanderZiel will also be a key player to give the Tigers some stability from the blue line.

Senior Mitch Campion will take his place between the pipes after closing out the season last year for Marshall as goalie and helping the Tigers finish the regular season on a three-game winning streak.

"He really finished up great for us down the stretch last year," said Mellenthin, who enters his sixth year as a Marshall assistant. "He led us into the playoffs and played really well. He's going to get the first look for us."

The Tigers finished the regular season 12-12 and 7-3 in the conference, while Redwood Valley rounded out its season 18-6 and 8-2 in Southwest play.

"Things look basically the same. Every night is going to be a battle for us in the conference," Mellenthin said. "(Redwood Valley) only lost a couple seniors as well."

Marshall will open the regular season Saturday on the road against an Austin Packers team that finished 0-21-1 last season, including a 10-2 loss to the Tigers at the Schwan's Ice Arena in Marshall.

"It's a program that's been down the last couple of years," said Mellenthin. "I think they've gone through some changes with the coaching staff and philosophy, so we're going to see probably a better effort out of them."

Marshall will host its first home game of the season against Worthington Tuesday, where the Tigers will have the opportunity to pick up where they left off last season. Marshall swept the Trojans with a 5-2 win in Worthington and a 7-0 win in Marshall.