There's a new team in the area: The Nashua North-South Knights. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

There’s more hockey history to be made this season.

Girls players from Souhegan and Nashua North and South had their moment this past weekend, but now its the boys turn. Wednesday night, the first Nashua High School North-South co-op varsity boys hockey team will take the ice for the first time at Saint Anselm’s Sullivan Arena, facing Bedford.

The North-South co-op, known as the Knights, leaves the area with just two Division I teams and now two Division II teams. Campbell will co-op with Pembroke, Pembroke being the lead school.

While the Knights open in a couple of days, the Cardinals of Bishop Guertin open up today at 4 p.m.vs.St.Thomas of Dover at Skate 3 in Tyngsborough, Mass. When we last saw the Cards, they had played their hearts out in a four-overtime defeat at the hands of Concord in the Division I finals last March at SNHU Arena.

In Division II, we last saw Merrimack-Hollis Brookline-Derryfield, they were falling in the title game for the second time in three years, bowing to St. Thomas of Dover. Yes it was a double dip at the Snu. The Warhawks open late tonight, 8:10 p.m. at West Side Arena vs. Londonderry at 8:10 p.m.

Meanwhile, Alvirne-Milford has a new head coach, former Rivier assistant Kathy Griswold. The Admirals will bounce back from a quarterfinal defeat in Division II and open up at Lebanon-Stevens-Mascoma tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Here’s a look:

NASHUA KNIGHTS

Brendan Doughty ‘s big motor, Connor Prunier’s offensive skills, and Braedyn Thyne’s defensive ability will be huge keys for the area’s newest team. All four coaches that were with North and South remain and it should be interesting.

“Thyne sees the ice very well,and isn’t afraid to get the energy up with a big hit” Knights co-coach Jordan Sarracco (working with Chris Zarlenga) said. “Prunier will set the tone in many of our games, and Doughty will look to continue building on the strong season he had last year.”

Some younger players like Brendan Skelley and Jared Gauthier will make an impact. The coaching staff got to work in the summer with the players for bonding purposes and mapped out a plan.

“Nashua hockey’s newly combined squad has one identity: outwork everyone,” Sarracco said. “We’ve built a culture where perseverance isn’t a slogan – it’s the standard.”

BISHOP GUERTIN

The Cards have four returning defensemen in juniors Gavin Santos and Luca Ferreira, plus sophomores Cam Auger and Jack Menici.

Key forwards include seniors Jordan O’Hearn and Jack Stone, plus junior Dom Trepanier.

“Four returning ‘D’ should keep us in most games,” Cards longtime coach Gary Bishop said. “The offense ill have to come from returning forwards unti newcomers adjust to the pace.”

As for goaltending, underclassmen are competing for playing time, so we’ll see who is between the pipes today. But the Cards will certainly be in the Division I mix.

DIVISION II

MHBDS WARHAWKS

The Warhawks top scorers are back, including senior Will Farrell who had 17 goals and 10 assists, plus Alex May with 12 goals and 10 assists. Seniors Josh Kahn and Tyler Allen are two experienced defensemen in front of junior goalies Liam Gagne and Jonny Turner, who in coach Dan Belliveau’s eyes “have learned a lot waiting for their time behind the graduated James Brew.”

It’s an off year when a Merrimack-based Belliveau team isn’t in the Division II Final Four, so make your plans.

Goalie Kian Corcoran is lookingfor a good year in the Alvirne-Milford net. (Courtesy photo)

ALVIRNE-MILFORD ADMIRALS

Three senior captains are keys on this team: forward Brendan Ganas, Chris Bozza and Landon Briand, plus Kian Corcoran in goal, whom Griswold feels can be “a game changer.” If Corcoran’s name is familiar, he played with a junior program last year and is now back with the Admirals.

Watch also for the speed of senior Brandon Callahan and defenseman Mason Tomkins. Freshman Luke Green plus sophomore transfer from St. Bernard’s Central Catholic in Fitchburg (Mass.), Wyatt Pepin will also help out.

“The whole squad has been working very hard in ths short run up to the season,” Griswold said, “and I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made so far.”