By Jim den Hollander
Editor/Publisher
Saukhockey.info
The big weekend is at has for teams in Reedsburg and Sauk Prairie.
The Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) Region 4 playdowns begin as early is Monday (Feb. 1 ) as all teams in the region at includes everyone from Illinois border, along the interstate to the Dells/Reedsburg area and south to Dodgeville.
All three local associations are in Division 3 of the playdowns based on association size. Baraboo T-Birds have opted out of the post season matches leaving the Sauk Prairie Flyers and RWD Cheavers to battle it out at several levels for WAHA State Championship berths. Other teams in Division 3 include Monroe and Stoughton, but several of the teams from those districts have opted out as well.
Here is a quick look at times and locations for Regional playdown matches involving Sauk County teams.
U-10 ‘B’ Girls
There are just two teams in this division and the Sauk Monkeys will square off with the U-10 Madison Patriots at SPARC at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Winner of that game will represent Region 4 at the U10 ‘B’ Championship tournament at River Falls on March 6-7.
Squirt ‘A’
Three teams are competing at this level. The RWD Cheavers will play Stoughton Vikings in a sudden death semi-final match Saturday at SPARC with an 11:45 a.m. faceoff. It will be the first meeting between the Vikings and Cheavers this season.
The winner of that contest will advance to the Regional Championship match Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against the Sauk Prairie Flyers. This game will also be held at SPARC.
The Regional Championship winner will represent the Region at the WAHA State Championship tournament at Antigo March 6-7.
Squirt B
There are just two contenders in this division – The RWD Cheavers and Sauk Prairie Eagles who will faceoff at Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA) at 11:45 a.m. Saturday. Winner of this match will advance to the WAHA State Championship tournament to be played at Waupun March 6-7.
These two teams met twice this season –Nov. 7 and Nov. 28 for the Cheavers. The first game ended in a 2-2 deadlock and the other was a 4-0 win for the Flyers.
U-12 ‘A’
The Sauk Monkeys are the lone representative at this level and as a result, they earn a berth at the U-12 ‘A’ State Championship tournament at Superior on March 13-14.
U-12 ‘B’
The Sauk Monkeys will play Janesville at 11:45 a.m. at Baraboo’s Pierce Park Pavilion on Saturday but both teams have already qualified for the WAHA State Championship tournament at Beaver Dam on March 13-14.
The winner of Saturday’s game will represent Region 4 at the WAHA Tournament and the other team will represent Region 2 which has no representative at this level.
Peewee ‘A’
There are three teams at the Peewee ‘A’ level, but as the WAHA Peewee State Championship host, the Flyers automatically qualify to play in the tournament at SPARC March 13-14.
That leaves the Monroe Avalanche and RWD Cheavers who will battle for the Region 4 spot on Sunday at 9:15 a.m. at RACA.
These teams met once this season, also at RACA on January 2. Cheavers won that match 9-2.
Peewee ‘B’
At the Peewee ‘B’ Level, the Regional qualifying spot comes down to a head-to-head match between the Cheavers and Flyers at Sauk Prairie at 12:15 p.m. Winner of this game will head to the State tournament at Rhinelander on March 13-14.
14-U Girls
This Division has three teams competing for one spot – Two of them representing the Verona Mavericks and the other out of the Sauk Prairie Monkeys.
A semi-final match in Dodgeville on Saturday between the Monkeys and Mavericks C at 9:30 a.m. Saturday will qualify one team to play in the Regional Championship game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, also at Dodgeville, against Mavericks B.
The Regional champ will move on to the WAHA State Championship March 6-7 in Marathon County.
Bantam ‘A’
Monroe Avs will advance straight to the WAHA Bantam 3A State Championship as the host. The Region 4 spot will be decided on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. in Baraboo as the Sauk Prairie Flyers take on the RWD Cheavers.
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