Players to watch: Jr. F Joe Bisson, Lewiston; Sr. F Jeromey Rancourt, Lewiston; Sr. F Drake Goupil, Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester; Sr. D Cole Oulellette, Lewiston; Jr. F Connor Cyr, Lewiston; Jr. F Alex Rivet, Lewiston; Jr. F Kodi Legassie, Bangor; Sr. F Noah Toussaint, St. Dom’s; Fr. F Will Fletcher, St. Dom’s; Jr. F Avery Pomerleau, Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth; Sr. G Derek Fournier, Bangor; Jr. G Dalton Bowie, Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth; Sr. G Ashton Dozois, Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester; Sr. F Cody Wooward, Edward Little; Sr. F Elijah McBride, Edward Little.

Favorite: Lewiston

The defending Class A champions enter the playoffs as the best team in the state once again. They went from 14 wins a year ago to 17 this season, one away from a perfect season. Their lone loss came from the Class A South No. 1 seed, the Falmouth Yachtsmen.

The Blue Devils have scored 132 goals this season and have the top two leading scorers in Class A North in Jeromey Rancourt and Joe Bisson, who each have 44 points so far. Bisson has 24 goals and Rancourt has 18.

Their first playoff game will be in the regional semifinals as they will face either arch rival St. Dominic Academy or Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester.

Darkhorse: Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth

If you are looking for a team other than Lewiston, St. Dom’s or Bangor to reach the regional final, look for the Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth to make a run. They amassed a 13-5 record to earn the No. 3 seed in Class A North playoffs.

They have a favorable draw as they host No. 6 Edward Little team that went 5-13 on the season. Although the Red Eddies played them tough in their lone regular season game, the Rams won 2-1 in overtime. If they get through that game they will draw No. 2 Bangor who finished 11-7. Bangor won the lone regular season game, 3-1.

Avery Pomerleau and Cam Wilson each lead the team with 22 points and goalie Dalton Bowie has played well versus top teams this year. He kept the Rams in a game against Lewiston where he made 35 saves in a 2-0 loss.

Fun Facts: Bangor goalie Derek Fournier was drafted by the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2016 … The Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester Kings have won six out of their past eight games entering the playoffs.

Overview: It’s a down season for Class A North, as St. Dom’s went from 10 wins a season ago to only having eight this season. The Red Eddies also had 10 wins in 2015-16, but only had half of that in 2016-17. If Bangor wants to move to the regional finals — something they have only done once in the past six years — they will have to rely on Fournier to keep it a low scoring game.

Prediction: Lewiston