The RWD bantam hockey team couldn’t have started much better, winning its first four contests – all on home ice at Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA) before dropping its first game on the road Sunday.

The season started with a pair of games November 1 as the Washington County Ice paid a visit.

The Cheavers captured a 6-2 win in the first of two games then followed it up with a 3-1 decision later the same day.

Nolan Pope and Tye Barney both scored twice, both adding an assist with other goals added by Gus DeFosse, Kaden Uminski, Bryan Mammos and Carter Renneberg. Uminski also collected an assist with other helpers for RJ Manley and Tristan Edgerton.

Alex Griebe stopped 43 of 46 shots to pick up a couple ‘W’s’ between the pipes.

This past weekend, Griebe topped those performances with his first shutout, against Sauk Flyers ‘B’ team, turning aside 43 shots in the first of two games Saturday. The second was a 4-2 decision against the Viroqua Thunder.

Included in the 11 goals were two each for Mammos, Barney, Alec Breunig and Uminski and others from Pope, Ryleigh Bychinski and Renneberg. Breunig and Uminski both added a pair of set ups with others for Kayla Garbacz, Bychinski and DeFosse. Griebe moved to 4-0 with a 20-save effort against Viroqua.

The streak ended Sunday as the Cheavers headed to Black River Falls and ran into a mighty squad that included a trio of Team Wisconsin players.

The Tigers rolled to a lopsided win on home ice while the Cheavers chalked it up to a valuable learning experience. This weekend the Cheavers will face its first tournament tests of the season, travelling to an event at the new arena in West Salem. The locals are scheduled to play at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and again at 11 a.m. Sunday. Next home games will be Nov. 28 when the Bantam Cheavers welcome the Chippewa Thunder for a pair of games at RACA.