WASILLA — The offseason was not exactly kind to the Wasilla Warriors.

After hoisting the North Star Conference championship trophy in February, the Warriors lost about a dozen seniors to graduation. And since then, two more key players opted to make the leap to the junior hockey ranks.

But even though Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant will be sending basically a brand new team on to the ice, the changes haven’t put a damper on the Warriors’ enthusiasm for the 2008-09 season.

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“Obviously we’ll have a different looking team than we’ve had the last two years, but we’re really excited,” Sturdevant said. “For the young guys, and even with some of the new guys, it’s a great opportunity for some of those guys to step in right away.”

With only five seniors and 10 upperclassmen on the roster, Sturdevant’s younger players should have ample chance to fill the void left by the departed players.

“We have a lot of holes to fill,” Sturdevant said. “A lot of different kids will get an opportunity to get a taste of varsity hockey.”

The bulk of Wasilla’s experience lies on the Warriors’ back line. Leading the list of veterans is senior defenseman Dylan Troisi, who was named captain prior to the season.

“He’s a natural pick to wear the ‘C’ on his jersey,” Sturdevant said. “I think he’s really embraced that. He’s a leader on the ice and in the locker room.”

New to the Wasilla program, but no stranger to the prep rink, is senior defenseman Dominik Frank, who is now with the Warriors after spending his first three seasons with the rival Colony Knights.

“It’s going to be nice to have him back there,” Sturdevant said of Frank, who played for the Wasilla head coach as a freshman when Sturdevant was an assistant at Colony. “He’ll help tremendously on defense.”

Seniors Skylar Day and Travis Koso also return. Sturdevant said Day will also play on the blue line and Koso will provide depth at both forward and defense.

Wasilla’s fifth senior is goalie Galen Kloepfer, a transfer from North Pole.

With four seniors on defense, Sturdevant is expecting much of Wasilla’s veteran leadership to come from the back line.

“The experience we have on defense certainly helps calm down the forwards,” Sturdevant said. “We’ve got all that leadership back there.”

Adding to that experience on defense are juniors Jade Johnston and Eric Marshall. Sturdevant also expects freshmen Chancie Hanson and Michael Johnston to contribute on the defensive end.

While the Warriors do have some experience on defense, Wasilla will rely on a group primarily made up of freshmen and sophomores up front.

“Last year, arguably, we had two No. 1 lines,” Sturdevant said. “Basically, we have only one guy coming back from those six players.”

That one player is sophomore Trent Wohlers, who posted 13 goals and 14 assists while spending most of his freshman season skating on Wasilla’s top line.

“He has a lot of experience, even as a sophomore,” Wohlers.

Also back are sophomores Ryder Conroy (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points) and Mike Edwards (4-5-9).

Sturdevant also noted freshmen forwards Jesse Gittlein and Dylan McCree.

Leading the Warriors in net is sophomore Chris Yaskus. He was 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals against average in limited duty as a freshman.

In addition to its graduated seniors, Wasilla is without juniors Matthew Friese and Jake Dargis this year.

Friese, a forward, was signed by the Alaska Avalanche Junior A hockey program in October. Dargis, a goaltender, is with the St. Paul Lakers of the Junior A Tier-III Minnesota Junior Hockey League.

Wasilla is off to a 1-0-0 start this year after a 2-1 win over Eagle River last week.

Marshall and Edwards scored for the Warriors.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.