Carrick has been one of the powers in PIHL high school hockey's Open Class in recent years, and it expects to be the same this season.

It just might do so in a different manner.

While the recent Raider teams have overwhelmed opponents with goals and talented offensive players, this season they are going for a more defense-oriented approach.

"We kind of tailed off offensively this year compared to the talent we've had in the past," coach Chris Chiusano said. "This year, we'll win close games. There's enough talent here that, if everyone pitches in and carries the torch and we work hard and everyone's on the same page, there's good leadership and a solid corps of defensemen that if we get some timely goals, we'll win games.

"We're not blessed with the firepower we've had recently. But our goal is to get back into the hunt for the Nailers Cup and compete for championships, and we're good enough to do that."

After losing its first two games of the season, Carrick has won two in a row heading into a game tonight against winless Quigley.

Over the past five seasons, the team -- which gets its players primarily from Carrick High School, but also has a handful from Brashear, Perry and other city high schools -- has had a player average at least a goal a game each season and had a player average three points per game in all but one season.

Despite the presence of alternate captain Jon Larkin, who has nine goals in the first four games, that might not happen this season. But with a strong defense, Carrick might not need it.

Team captain Dave Kaercher, sophomore Ryan Maurice, senior Aaron Kass and junior Josh Kowalecki form an exceptional group of defensemen.

"I think a lot of our strength this year will be on defense," Chiusano said.

Kaercher has been a solid leader both vocally and by example. Kowalecki, who also plays amateur hockey, has plenty of experience. Kass is a solid, stay-at-home type and Maurice is skilled and more offensive-minded.

"It's such a help to know that we have such good defensemen back there to back us up," Larkin said. "We have seniors who are leaders of the defense and new players who have fit in fine."

For the time being, Carrick has an unusual situation at goalie, where it has remarkable depth. Seniors Rich Veitch and Keith Goralzick and sophomore Josh Brown have all played during the team's first four games. Each is capable of starting.

"We'd like to get one of them to be established as our go-to man, but we're currently leaving that up to them," Chiusano said. "Who is that going to be? We don't know. They've been pretty even all the way so far."

Larkin is the team's marquee offensive player. A four-year Carrick player, he also has played for the Pittsburgh Predators organization and had 12 goals in 11 games for Carrick last season.

Larkin skates on a line with fellow senior and alternate captain Joe Shamlin and senior Matt Retsch. Shamlin leads the team with six assists.

Junior Jimmy Ancell, senior Shawncey Holzapfel and senior Nico Aggazio are also some of the team's other top offensive players.

The captains and other seniors have been good leaders for Carrick.

"All the seniors have really stepped up and are taking the younger guys and telling them what to do," Larkin said. "When they do something wrong, they take them off to the side and talk to them."

Carrick had somewhat of a down year last season after winning the Open Class Southwest Conference title (the Nailers Cup) in 2005 and '06 and also playing in the championship game two seasons ago.

"We want to make sure we get back into the playoffs and win a game because we lost in the first round last year," Larkin said. "And then see what happens from there."

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