The Aomori Wat's are positioning themselves for another postseason appearance, building on the experience the Tohoku-based team gained in its inaugural season.
Coach Koju Munakata has guided the Wat's to a respectable 13-9 start, including a 4-2 record in their past six games.
Aomori, which had a 27-25 record in 2013-14, features a deep, versatile roster. Bench players have made key contributions along with the starters.