Sauk County varsity hockey teams are heading into the home stretch of their respective WIAA seasons and the Sauk Prairie Eagles still have a shot at grabbing a share of the Badger North Conference crown.
They will need a win tonight on home ice at the Sauk Prairie Ice Arena against Beaver Dam, a team they lost to 4-2 at Beaver Dam Family Center back in December. That loss snapped a six-game season opening winning streak for the Flyers who will be looking to avenge that tonight on home ice.
The RWD Cheavers are enjoying a rare weekend off. In fact, the local team will not hit the ice in anger again until Friday when they host the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds at the Poppy Waterman Ice Arena in Lake Delton.
In between the Eagles will make the trip to McFarland Tuesday to play the Spartans, a former conference rival now back in the Badger South, then try to deny the Waunakee Warriors the outright conference title at the Ice Pond in Waunakee Thursday night. In their previous meeting, on home ice, the Eagles dropped a 2-0 decision for one of only two conference losses this season. The Warriors have been bested just once in conference play, that coming just Tuesday at Baraboo’s Pierce Park Arena against the Thunderbirds
Baraboo Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds will travel to the Wausau area to play DC Everest in a non-Conference match Monday and return to Pierce Park the following night to play West Salem Panthers, setting up its return match with the Cheavers on Friday which will leave the Baraboo squad with just one game left to play.
Badger Lightning
The Badger Lightning plays its next game on Tuesday at the Poppy Waterman Ice Arena against the visiting Black River Falls Tigers in a non-Conference match – Seniors night for the team in a game that will be its next to last home game of the campaign.
Month: January 2020
Cyclones, Lightning, Flyers and Monkeys head to Regionals
Regionals are here for all of the local youth hockey teams.
Beginning tonight and running through the weekend, every level in Region 4 will go through Playdowns with the victors advancing to the state championship tournaments in March.
The South Central Cyclones and Badger Lightning will have eight teams taking part in Regional events this weekend while the Sauk Prairie Flyers and Monkeys girls team will total a half dozen teams, including one that is drawing an automatic bid to state and enjoy a weekend off.
South Central Cyclones Squirts (U-10)
All three Squirt teams will be trying to qualify but it will be a tough run. The Squirt A squad will begin the 2A Playoffs at McFarland against Oregon at 1 p.m. Saturday with the winner of that game advancing to the Regional championship Sunday against Janesville at 9:15 a.m. at Verona. The state tournament will be at McFarland March 7-8.
The B squad will follow the A side with a 2:15 p.m. game at McFarland on Saturday, taking on the Oregon B’s. Winner of this game will advance to the Regional final Sunday at 8 a.m. at Verona against either Janesville or McFarland. The Regional champion will earn a berth at the State Championship Tournament March 7-8 at Menomonie.
The C’s will get an early start on what could be a busy weekend, playing McFarland in a 6 p.m. game at Vernona tonight (Friday). The winner of that will move into the second round against Janesville Black, Saturday at the Ice Pond in Waunakee, starting at 6:45 p.m. That semi-final winner will face either Janesville Blue or Oregon for the Regional title at Verona Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Squrit 2C State will take place March 7-8 at Washington County and it appears in this Division both finalists will qualify for State, the Regional Runner Up grabbing a Wild Card spot.
Sauk Prairie Flyers Squirts (U-10)
The Squirt Flyers finished on top in league play and draw a bye straight to the Regional championship game against either Stoughton or Monroe Sunday at 8 a.m. at the Ice Pond in Waunakee.
Winner of that game will represent Region 4 at the Squirt 3A State Championship tournament at Waupaca March 7-8.
The Flyers’ Squirt B team has drawn an even better bye, an automatic bid as the Regional rep at the 3B State tournament to be played at Marshfield March 7-8.
Sauk Prairie Peewees/12U Girls
The Sauk Prairie Monkeys U-12 Girls Hockey team will be at the Ice Pond Sunday at 9:15 a.m. to square off against the Dane County Diamonds. The winner will represent Region 4 at the State 12U B Championship event to be hosted by the South Central Cyclones March 14-15.
The Sauk Peewee A team also moves straight to the Regional championship game, facing Monroe Sunday at the Ice Pond in a 12:15 p.m. start for the right to play at the 3A State Championship March 14-15 at Black River Falls.
The Sauk Prairie B team will play in the 2C playdowns beginning at Oregon, 11 a.m. Saturday against the McFarland Peewees.
Winner of that game will move on to play in the Regional championship match Sunday at the Ice Pond in Waunakee with a 10:45 a.m. faceoff. The Region winner will take part in the State 2C Championship tournament at Somerset, March 14-15.
South Central Cyclones Peewees
The Peewee A Cyclones will begin its quest at the Ice Pond on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. against Janesville with the winner advancing to play for the Region 4 Crown Sunday at Sun Prairie (Tubbs) at 11:30 a.m. against either Oregon or McFarland.
The 2A State tournament will be played at Elmbrook March 14-15.
The Peewee B squad will begin on Saturday at Hartmeyer Arena in Madison with a 2:45 p.m. faceoff against Oregon. Winner of that battle moves into the Regional championship game against either McFarland or Janesville at Sun Prairie (Tubbs), Sunday at 10 a.m. Region champion will move on to play at the State 2B Championship tournament at Eagle River March 14-15.
South Central Cyclones Bantams/U-14 Badger Lightning
The U-14 Lightning steps into the post season event Saturday at 6:15 p.m. against Maverick A at McFarland with the winner moving into the Regional championship game against either Jr. Fury or Maverick B Sunday at Oregon with an 11 a.m. faceoff.
The U-14 State Championship will be played March 7-8 at West Salem.
The Bantam A Cyclones will play at Verona, 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Janesville with the winner advancing to play either Oregon or McFarland Sunday with an 11 a.m. faceoff at Sun Prairie (Cardinal). Winner of that game will represent the Region at 2A State to be played March 7-8 at Hayward.
The Bantam B Cyclones will also start at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, but at Oregon against Janesville with the winner advancing to meet Oregon or McFarland Sunday in a 9:30 a.m. at Sun Prairie (Cardinal). Regional champion will be invited to the State 2B Championship tournament at Sheboygan March 7-8.
Sauk Prairie Flyers Bantams
The Sauk Prairie Bantams, made up primarily of players from last season’s Peewee State Championship team, will face Monroe in a win or go home Regional Championship game Sunday at Hartmeyer Arena in Madison at 1:15 p.m.
The Bantam 3A State Championship tournament will be played in Rhinelander March 14-15.
Sauk Hockey 