Day: February 18, 2023

Brandt, Scott lead Cheavers past improved Avalanche

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Cheavers varsity hockey team didn’t pay much attention to recent trends when it opened the 2022/23 WIAA playoffs at Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA) Tuesday (Feb. 14) with a 7-3 win against the Aquinas/Holmen Avalanche.

It was a battle of middle seeds in the 13-team WIAA Section 3 with the eighth seeded Cheavers hosting the number nine Avs. While the RWD squad endured and up and down season, its longest streak a pair of three straight wins.

One of those streaks started on Dec. 30 with a 7-0 win against the Avs at the Bobber’s Classic Holiday Tournament.

However, following that game, the Avs got about as hot as a team can get, picking up wins in 10 of its final 11 games.

That didn’t impress the Cheavers though as they carried a 1-0 lead out of the first period but had the game in control with a 5-1 margin heading to the third.

Leading the offense were seniors Caden Brandt with two goals and two assists and John Scott who fired a pair and set up another. Seniors Logan DeMars and Nate Stando had other goals along with junior Andrey Tougas.

Caden Brandt collected four points to help his RWD Cheavers teammates roll to a 7-3 win in their WIAA playoff opener at RACA Tuesday (Feb. 14). Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer

Senior Lukas Vana had a couple assists with others picked up by senior Carsen Brandt and junior Brady Baldwin.

Avs goals came from senior Ethan Meyer, freshman Owen Hoehn and sophomore Casey Keane.

The win advanced the Cheavers into the WIAA Section 3 quarter finals but they face a tough task, heading to Verona to take on the top seeded Wildcats.

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Mast leads Eagles past Thunderbirds

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

One Sauk County team was destined to fall on the opening night of the WIAA postseason with fifth seeded Sauk Prairie Eagles hosting the 12th seeded Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds on Tuesday (Feb. 14).

The Eagles prevailed at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) by an 8-1 score and pounding the Thunderbirds cage with 70 shots. 

Burke Schweda was, as usual, the busiest player on the ice, kicking an awesome 62 shots but at the opposite end of the ice was Luke Mast, one of the top offensive players in the state this season. 

Mast, a senior, played a  part in all eight Eagles’ goals, scoring one and helping out on the other seven.

Luke Mast (left) had a hand in all eight goals for the Sauk Prairie Eagles as they moved past the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds 8-1 in their playoff opener, The Eagles advanced to play Madison Memorial Spartans in the quarter finals. This photo is from a home game earlier this season against RWD. Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer

Four of those goals came from junior Colin Harrington who also added an assist while freshman Landon Froese notched a hat trick and set ups on three others. Sophomore Gunnar Nachreiner and freshman Josh Mast collected an assist apiece as well.

Kaden Stracke stopped all but one of the 14 shots he faced to collect the win in goal.

Senior Peyton Sloan fired the final Thunderbirds’ goal of the campaign on a feed from sophomore Colin Mattson.

This was likely the final game for the Thunderbirds for a while as there are discussions underway of the team merging with another program for the 2023/24 campaign. The Thunderbirds wrapped up 2022/23 with a 4-21 record

The Eagles advanced to the Sectional quarter-finals, scheduled to play the fourth seeded Madison Memorial Spartans at Madison Ice Arena Thursday night.

Spartans earned its spot in the quarters with a 9-0 win against DeForest Norskies on Tuesday night.

The Eagles and Spartans met at the Holiday tournament Dec. 30 and played to a 2-2 draw.