No shortage of Colorado ice hockey contenders this year

With the regular season down to its final weekend, the state's hockey picture is a bit murkier than a year ago.

Unlike last season, when Ralston Valley (Arvada) rampaged its way to a perfect 23-0 season and was a clear-cut favorite to win it all, no such team exists this season. Sure, the Mustangs are again talented and will make a firm push for their third straight title, but they are not the slam dunk they were last year at this time.

In fact, Regis Jesuit (Aurora) still maintains the top spot in the CHSAANow.com rankings, with the Raiders' lone glitch in their otherwise a perfect season being last week's 2-2 tie with Ralston Valley.

"I'd say it's a little more wide open this season," Regis Jesuit coach Dan Woodley said. "Last year, I could count five teams that had a legitimate chance to win the whole thing. This year, I'd say there's up to seven teams that I've seen that have a legitimate chance, maybe even eight or nine.

"If a good one-third of the (Foothills) League is capable of winning it all, it's going to make for a very interesting playoffs."

With a wide-open feel in mind, here's a quick look at the top eight contenders, in order of their spot in the rankings this week. CHSAA is scheduled to release the state bracket Sunday.

Regis Jesuit: The Raiders (16-0-1) feature everything a well-rounded hockey squad craves. An ultra-potent scoring attack, led top scorers Cale Woodley and Connor Brennan; hot goaltending from Sam Gartner, who seamlessly has replaced Sam Harden (now in the NA3HL); and recent success. Before Ralston Valley won the past two titles, the Raiders had won three of the past five.

Ralston Valley: After watching their unbeaten streak end at 41 games with a loss to Mountain Vista, the Mustangs (16-1-1) have roared back to go 8-0-1 down the stretch. Still the pick of many to win it all, the Mustangs have gotten a combined 62 points from Jeff Moffat and Tony Salazar.

Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch): The Golden Eagles (15-1-1) have been knocking on the doorstep the past few seasons. Is this the year they break it down and land in the championship game? Bryan Hancock leads a talented corps of scorers and goaltenders Tanner Munn and Mitchell Volmert have combined to go 13-0-1.

Monarch (Louisville): Before the playoffs begin, the Coyotes (14-2-1) will have a chance to earn a measure of revenge Saturday against a Ralston Valley squad that has beaten them in the past two championship games. The Coyotes remain stout despite senior Walker Harris' ascension to juniors. Blake Bride has overtaken the primary scoring role with 17 goals and 21 assists.

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village): Last year's run to the semifinals was unforeseen after the Bruins struggled as a first-year squad in 2012-13. But they've proven last season was no fluke, as the Bruins (14-3) again have been salty with a scoring attack led by Tim Keohane and Nick Chavez. Creek's lone losses are to top-four teams.

Dakota Ridge (Littleton): This year's surprise story made its biggest statement with a shutout of Monarch last month, and the Eagles (16-3) have morphed from a dark-horse candidate to a mainstream contender to crack the final four. Zach Williams leads a balanced cast of scorers while Joey Owston has been the top netminder.

Air Academy (US Air Force Academy): There has been no shortage of firepower for the Kadets (15-3), who boast the state's top scorer in Travis Work (22 goals, 24 assists) and the Nos. 3 and 4 scorers in Sam Thrutchley and Jonathan Valtin. The knock on the Kadets is that they haven't seen as rugged of competition in the Peak League, but they'll soon get their chance to branch out.

Resurrection Christian (Loveland): The Cougars (14-5) have hovered slightly below the radar behind the highly-touted teams atop the Foothills League. But they boats a top defenseman in John Tower and two dynamic forwards in Garrett Devine and Zach Lish. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Cougars pull off an upset in the postseason.