Bowling Green hockey coach Dan DeWitt believes that to be the best, you must play the best.

So this year DeWitt s Bobcats will square off against the defending state champions from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois. It is that type of brutal nonconference schedule that prepares BG to make its annual run deep into the state playoffs. Bowling Green has made 11 straight trips to the Final Four of the state tournament. From 1991-99, BG either won the state title or finished runner-up. The Bobcats won three straight titles at the end of the 90s and have won six crowns since 1980.

“We try to play the top teams,” DeWitt said. “We try to play as tough a competition as we can. Our nonconference schedule is filled with quality opponents.”

But once again this season, BG also will be challenged in the Northwest Hockey Conference. St. Francis de Sales looks to be the Bobcats biggest obstacle. Northview and St. John s Jesuit could upset the front-runners on any given night.

“We are all dialing our schedules up and trying to play tough competition to prepare us for the end run,” said Northview coach Jim Cooper, who is taking his team to a tournament in Colorado next month to face some of the best teams in the nation. “Plus it will be a heck of a year in the conference. We have such excellent coaches.”

Here is a look at the NHC Red Division teams in order of predicted finish by the coaches:

BOWLING GREEN

Coach: Dan DeWitt, 14th season

Last season: 29-2 overall, 10-0 NHC (1st place)

Top players: Seniors Kevin Rawlik, F; Steve Culbertson, F; Casey Horner, F; Jon Adler, F; Andy Ruehl, D; Tyler Fries, D; Matt Van Vorhis, D; Dan Marcson, G. Junior Andrew Jordan, F.

Outlook: The Bobcats return the conference s top three scorers and appear to be in good position to win a fourth straight league title with half of DeWitt s roster filled by seniors.

None is more impressive than Culbertson, who is the two time player of the year in the NHC. Culbertson scored 39 goals and had 29 assists last year. Rawlik (30 goals, 25 assists) finished second in points, followed by Jordan (14 goals, 30). Marcson posted a 19-2 record and a 1.7 goals-against average last season.

But DeWitt cautions that he also lost half of his starting forwards (six) to graduation.

“Granted I m not whining, we obviously have a good core back on offense and defense,” DeWitt said.

Fresh in the mind of DeWitt is a crushing 4-3 loss to Lakewood St. Edward in the state semifinals last year. The score was tied with 12 seconds left in regulation when St. Ed s scored the game-winner.

ST. FRANCIS

Coach: Mike Greeder, third season

Last season: 13-14-1, 5-4-1 (third)

Top players: Seniors Bart Urbaniak, GK; Tyler Duncan, F. Juniors Mike Farber, D; Kevin Weber, F.

Outlook: Despite what the other coaches say, Greeder said his team looks to be facing a rebuilding year after losing 12 players from last season s squad.

Greeder is counting on his defense and the goaltending of the experienced Urbaniak to help his Knights stay in games. Urbaniak made 230 saves in 10 league games last year and had an .885 save percentage. He was also named first team all-league.

Greeder said his forwards need to score more goals than they did last season. However, Duncan is back after recording 13 points (seven goals, six assists) to tie for fourth in points in the league.

NORTHVIEW

Coach: Jim Cooper, 29th season

Last season: 22-10, 7-3 (second)

Top players: Seniors Nick Heath, F; Sean Mick, D; Alan Sundheimer, D; Pete Casper, F; Junior Drew Stark, F. Sophomores Tim Hurst, F; Adam Thanasiu, D; Bobby McElheney, GK.

Outlook: Cooper has seven back on offense and three on defense, but McElheney is a new face in net.

“It s going to be similar to last year where we played great team defense because we don t possess a lot of offensive power,” Cooper said. “We ll need to limit shot totals and scoring chances to keep us in games.”

The Wildcats have good team speed and should have a quick transition game.

Stark is the leading returning scorer. Heath, a captain, is key on the power player. Hurst is a big strong, left winger, while Mick and Thanasiu form a formidable defensive tandem. Casper is the team s emotional leader.

ST. JOHN S

Coach: Mike Hayes, 1st year

Last season: 14-14-4, 5-4-1 (third)

Top players: Seniors Zach Nadaud, F; Corey Schmalzreid, F; Jimmy Gerhardinger, G. Juniors Mike Persiani, D; Nate Ceglio, F; Skipper Clark, F; Larry Black, F; Matt White, F.

Outlook: Rookie coach Mike Hayes said the Titans strength will be their team speed up front.

“Our first three lines are very fast and skilled,” he said.

He said the team does not have a clear-cut scoring leader but will get goals from several players. St. John s defensemen also will have good size and strength.

Hayes said a potential concern is a lack of size up front and an overall lack of experience as he lost 14 players to graduation.

“We will be counting on several people with either very little or no varsity experience,” he said. “We could be very good by year s end.”

FINDLAY

Coach: Mike Root, 26th season

Last season: 8-19-1, 2-8 (fifth)

Top players: Seniors Tyler Curlis, F; Max Dobler F.

Outlook: Curlis and Dobler are the only returning starters but were ranked second and third, respectively, in scoring on the team last year. Gone are eight starters, including five key seniors and the goaltender.

“We are in a rebuilding mode,” Root said.

The veteran coach hopes his team is competitive in league play and learns as it goes. Root said he is fortunate that his Trojans will not play in the northwest Ohio district when the postseason tournament rolls around. For the second straight season, Findlay will head to the Troy district to open tournament play.

SOUTHVIEW

Coach: Wayne Collins, second season

Last season: 9-16, 1-9 (sixth)

Top players: Senior Greg Komisarek, D. Juniors Levi Kuebbler, F; Cheyene Ducat, F; Bobby Block, D.

Outlook: Collins said he hopes a core of sophomores steps up to provide depth. The play of sophomore goalie Trevor Fournier is critical to the Cougars chances of completing a winning season.

Kuebbler is the team s top returning scorer (seven goals and 13 assists). Ducat tallied 15 points (six goals, nine assists) from his right wing position. Komisarek and Block should hold down the blue line nicely.

Sophomores Nate Jones, Kyle McKinch and Peter Day will be called upon to complement the play of the upperclassmen.

First Published November 28, 2003, 1:11 p.m.