Brewer High School’s defending Eastern Maine Class B champion hockey team has stumbled to a 1-2 start this season.

But the Witches still appear to be the team to beat regionally in Class B.

“I still think Brewer has the best team in B,” said 10th-year Old Towncoach Gene Fadrigon, whose Indians have stunned the Witches 2-1. “They’re a quality team.”

“I think we’ll be all right,” said seventh-year Brewer coach Bill Schwarz. “We’re playing good defense. But we haven’t been putting the puck in the net.”

While the Witches remain the favorite, a closely-bunched pack of teams will try to dethrone them.

Eastern Maine regional Class B finalist Winslow has staggered to a 1-5 start.

So surprising Hampden, a second-year program, and upstart Old Town appear to be the primary challengers to the Witches. Foxcroft Academy’s vastly improved Ponies are cast as the dark horse team.

Brewer probably has the best defensive corps with the Roeder twins, Ben and Chris, along with Rob Jardine and Trevor Watt in front of top-notch veteran goalie Matt Blaine.

Schwarz hopes the established line of Matt Enman between Ben Ellis and Chad Allen can become prolific offensively along with second liners Chris O’Donnell, John Allen, Jason Seavey and Chris Vydas.

Hampden Academy is 4-0-1 after its first five games.

“I think our team, as a whole, has improved over last year,” said Hampden Coach Paul Henderson. “They’re playing our systems a lot better, and they have more confidence because they have a year of experience.”

Hampden did not have any seniors on last year’s team.

Senior Corey Nicholson and sophomore Ian Dilts provide Henderson with a good goaltending tandem. Veterans Jason Dority, John Harker, Matt Economy and Shane McDougall and freshman Jason Yehle are solid on the blue line.

The Broncos, according to Henderson, have “three well-balanced lines.” Senior right wing Mike Tardif and brothers Kyle and Rob King, both left wings, have been the offensive catalysts.

Old Town was decimated by graduation in 1993, going from a state championship team to a 4-13-1 squad.

Wins over Brewer, Foxcroft, and Gardiner have led to speculation of an Old Town resurgence.

“We’re received great goaltending from Christy Danielson and Jeremy Smith. And we have four defensemen who saw a lot of action a year ago,” said Fadrigon, referring to Gordon Small, Casey King, Corey Ware and Shane Sapiel.

“We’ve got a couple of lines that have the ability to play real well,” added Fadrigon, who has Adam King centering one line between Rodney Ayotte and leading goal-scorer Joe Field and Josh Mitchell centering another line between Matt Duque and Nate Rand.

Foxcroft Academy was 5-11 a year ago but is off to a 2-1-1 start thanks to speedy senior center Ry Hoffman’s four goals and 10 assists and the exceptional goaltending of junior B.J. Costa. Left wings Seth Sands and Todd Perkins have also played key roles with seven and five goals, respectively.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” said second-year coach Jeff Jordan, who has what he considers the youngest defensive corps in the league in sophomores Jarrod Jordan, Robbie Freese and Dick Orton and hard-shooting freshman Ben Preston.