2022-23 All Sauk Hockey varsity team

By Jim den Hollander
Editor/Publisher
Saukhockey.info
Following is a much belated look back on the 2022-23 varsity hockey season with my second all-Sauk County team.
This was a crazy season for this writer – absent for big parts of the campaign and unable to travel for some as well. But there were still some memorable moments and there is still not much better than sipping arena coffee on the glass with a game on the other side.
I don’t feel like as much of an authority or expert as I did last season, but I wanted to finally get this list up to honor some of the top players in the area (and state). As usual, putting this together gave me some great memories and early anticipation for the 2023-24 season which promises to be exciting as well.

All Saukhockey.info teams

First Line

Forwards:

Luke Mast (left) looks for a way past RWD defender Carsen Brandt during their game at SPARC last season night. Mast became the second player in team history to reach the 200-point plateau and Brandt was a defensive leader for RWD. **(Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)**

Luke Mast (Sauk Prairie Eagles) — Despite losing a solid core of players on both offense and defense to graduation at the end of the 2021-22 season, the Eagles enjoyed an improvement, climbing to the runners up spot in the Badger West Conference and becoming the first and so far only team to win a Badger Conference game against the Madison Edgewood Crusaders.

Mast was expected to take the reins for the Eagles and he couldn’t have done a beter job, scoring 33 goals and adding 45 assists for 78 points, ranking him among the top scorers in the state. Not bad for a forward that missed a pair of early contests with what turned out to be a not nearly as bad as expected wrist injury.

The Eagles collected 123 goals on the season which means Mast played a part in 70 percent of his team’s offense. This came as no surprise to anyone opaying attention to local hockey. Mast hs been a key part of the team since he collected 13 goals and 26 points as a freshman.

In his four seasons with the Eagles, Mast collected 86 goals and 206 regular season points becoming just the second player in team history to cross the 200-point plateau.

Kayla Capener (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

Kayla Capener – (Badger Lightning) — Nothing like leaving on top.
Capener and her senior teammates pitched in and delivered the Badger Lightning to levels not even thought of in previous seasons in 2022-23 and she moves on to the softball season as the Lightning’s all time leading scorer, her 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points finishing off a 58 goal, 150 point career.
That includes the 2020-21 season that saw the Lightning compete in just 17 games during the COVID craziness. In that season, Capener, Bella Bowden and Mallory Ruland combined for an all-sophomore line forced into leadership roles on a Lightning team that consisted of 10 skaters and two goaltenders.
This past season, Capener notched 19 goals along with 29 assists for 48 points. In the assist column, she was third best in the state, just two helpers behind state leader Eileen Carey. Her 48 point was the fifth best total in the state.
Along with the rest of the now full Badger lineup including a group of hard nosed seniors that paid little attention to history dictating they were supposed to lose to certain teams, Capener helped the team to its first .500 season and first playoff victory in a decade or more.

Caden Brandt **(Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)**

Caden Brandt (Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston) — Much like Mast, Brandt is a soft-spoken forward that has been among the offensive leaders on the Cheavers since his sophomore season.
Brandt does his talking on the ice, and he can play in any situation as he possesses all the tools, a great skater equally comfortable in a tight checking or wide-open contest. His great vision and perfect passing make his teammates better when Brandt is on the ice with them.
Also, like Mast, Brandt endured a bit of an injury scare early in the season. He appeared in 20 of the team’s 24 games but that was enough for him to collect 20 goals and 37 points to lead the team in scoring.
In his career, Brandt notched 78 regular season goals and 128 points, the second highest total in the RWD team’s history behind only Dylan Brown (note – The RWD team was formed in 2010-11 – Reedsburg/Baraboo, Reedsburg and Wisconsin Dells statisics are not available).

Defense:
Carsen Brandt (Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston) — Caden’s twin brother has been a key part of his team’s blue line corps.
Brandt relied on both speed and strength to limit opposition opportunities and he is equally as effective in the offensive zone, particularly on a powerplay.
Expected to miss almost all of his junior year due to shoulder surgery, Brandt instead decided to push the surgery to the end of the hockey season and played through the pain becoming a key player on the blue line.
As a senior Brandt was everywhere, playing a big role on both offense and defense. He contributed three goals and 13 points and despite playing a physical game when needed he sat just 14 minutes in penalties over the season.

Karsyn Banta (Sauk Prairie Eagles) — Banta was the leading scorer among defenders on the Sauk Prairie Eagles, the junior putting up three goals and collecting 13 points on an Eagles team that suddenly got young on the blue line.
Despite losing some of the best defensemen in the conference, the Eagles continued to battle the Badger West’s front runners due in part to an experienced pair in goal, but also the defense corps stepping up in a big way. With the graduation of Mast along with senior goaltenders Brooks McInerney and Kaden Stracke, Banta will be counted on even more in his senior season.

Burke Schweda routinely faced 50+ shots in goal for the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds and kicked out more than 90 per cent of those chances. **(Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)**

Goaltender:
Burke Schweda (Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds) — The writer is really going to chicken out in the goaltending category which was strong for all four Sauk County teams.
In fact, this is the only goaltending decision made. At first glance Schweda may seem an odd choice but primary reason for him standing out is his resilience. Schweda went to the crease 23 times in 2022/23 and he won just four games. But he routinely faced 50-plus shots per game with a season total of 1,295. He still sported a .909 Save Percentage and and the score played no part in his effort. Down by four or more goals he still stood tall in the crease and challenged shooters.
Schweda likely deserves most of the credit for the four wins and coming in as a junior this season, he will likely carry the load once again for the Thunderbirds.

Second Line

Forwards:
John Scott(Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston) — In the past two seasons, Scott transformed into maybe one of the most complete players in the conference. He may not seem as flashy as some of the others but spend a game or a period watching him and his true value comes through.
Scott lives for the battles at the top of the crease and while his 19 goals and 34 points were good enough for second on his team, there is no stat that measures his value when it comes to clearing the lanes and battling for loose pucks. Its a live by the sword, die by the sword type of game which saw him take 50-plus penalty minutes including three majors, but its a trade off most teams would happily take. He scored three goals on powerplay and added two others while the Cheavers were shorthanded.

Colin Harrington (Sauk Prairie Eagles) — Harrington has one more year to play and will be counted on heavily by the Eagles in his senior year. Playing on a line with Mast as a junior, Harrington racked up 21 goals and 43 points helping the Eagles outscore opponents 112-45. Of the team’s 112 goals, 78 came from Mast-Harrington and Landon Froese. Harrington led the team with four shorthanded goals and the top line proved almost equal to even strength when killing as the trio combined on eight shorties.
Harrington boasted solid speed and strength and he must have known his value as a penalty killer, sitting just 10 minutes himself in 22 games.

Landon Froese (Sauk Prairie Eagles) — This is the only Freshman that will make this team — just a policy for the writer to give credit to the upper classmen who lead the team. But it’s impossible to leave him off as he completed the team’s power trio.
The past half dozen or so seasons have been the best era in the Eagles’ history and many of the key cogs in that machine have moved on to college and beyond now. Froese is among the players that will play a big role in the next generation of the Eagles. Based on youth hockey performances in recent years, he will have some help.
Froese introduced himself to the varsity game with 24 goals and 41 points in 23 games. If he can build and improve on those totals he will leave in three years as a another who has reached great heights with the Eagles.

Defense:
Logan DeMars (Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston ) — A solid 200-foot player DeMars stepped up as a force at both ends of the ice for the Cheavers this past season.
DeMars led defenders on RWD with three goals and 17 points, four of his assists coming on powerplays and another with the Cheavers shorthanded. A four-year member of the varsity squad, the rugged physical defender wrapped up his career with eight goals and 33 points.
Despite not shying away from the physical part of the game, DeMars mostly kept it clean, collecting just seven minors as a senior which was less than the 22 minutes he collected as a junior.

Eryn Benson (Badger Lightning) — A pair of first years (See future prospects) stepped up in a big way for the Lightning this past season but Benson has been a primary piece on the blue line since she was a first year herself.
Her production dropped a bit in her senior season, likely due to a a more complete unit on the blue line that lessened her work load but she was still a key contributor with a couple goals and five points, wrapping up a nine-goal, 33 point four-year stint on the blue line. Benson collected a goal and assist on the powerplay but her main contribution came in her own end as she helped goaltender Alyssa Gada out keeping the front of the net clear and allowing her to see what was coming.

Goaltenders:
Alex Griebe (Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston); Kaden Stracke(Sauk Prairie)Alyssa Gada (Badger Lightning) — There hasn’t been a season in a while that saw all four teams with standout goaltending. There is little separation between any of them.
Stracke wrapped up a solid run for the Eagles, collecting 13 ‘dubs’ and dropping just four, then adding two more wins in the post season. Since his sophomore season, Stracke racked up 34 wins and lost just nine, posting a 2.18 Goals Against Average over his career. He kicked out 963 of 1054 shots for an overall save percentage of .914.
Stracke was the go-to man in the crease but Brooks McInerney was there all three seasons as well with numbers close to Stracke’s giving the Eagles quality and consistency no matter who was blocking the shots.
Alex Griebe, a sophomore made an awesome debut for the varsity Cheavers, playing all but 11 minutes of the team’s 26 games this past season. The young keeper gave an indication of what could be on the horizon as a freshman when he collected shutouts routinely as the team’s junior varsity tender. Following last season’s Sauk Hockey Player of the Year Cooper Oakes to the crease is likely comparable to a comedian following Jerry Seinfeld to the stage, but he did it in seamless fashion and he will be relied on heavily over the next two seasons.
Griebe collected 15 wins on the season and kept his team in some games with a 2.06 Goals Against Average.
Gada is entering her senior season coming off a remarkable season that saw her play a part in the team’s first .500 season in ages.
The team advanced at an awesome pace going back to the Covid-shortened campaign but in that season, Gada, then a freshman gave an indication of what to expect, allowing just 47 goals on 460 shots.
Depth on the blue line aided her this past season but she still faced 586 shots, kicking out 525 and helping the team to a 2.80 Goals Against Average, under three for a first time in recent memory. She also collected five shutouts on the season giving her seven total approaching what seemed an untouchable total of 11 posted by Jamie Dutton about a decade earlier. No other Lightning goaltender has posted more than two in a career since 2011.
Gada will become even more important as a senior as the Lightning continues to improve but may have to be even more defensively sound due to the departure of players that racked up a huge percentage of the team’s offense in recent seasons.

Third Line

Forwards:
Brady Baldwin(Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston) — Baldwin made an instant impression on RWD and has been a member of the team’s top two lines since his first game as a freshman.
Baldwin is a perfect linemate as he can play any role — playmaker, sniper, checker, defensive specialist…name it. Perhaps because of that, he has moved around a bit but has a knack for being able to create chemistry along with any player he is teamed with.
This past season he collected 12 goals and 17 points in 23 games, his best total in a 27 goal, 47 point career so far. He excels on special teams, three of his goals coming on powerplay and one a shorty. Meanwhile, he sat just 17 minutes in penalties himself.

Peyton Sloan (Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds) — Goals were hard to come by for the Thunderbirds in 2022-23, but Sloan accounted for seven, more than a quarter of the team’s total. He scored key goals as well, collecting the game winner in two of the team’s four wins.
Head Coach Tony Bluske said the senior was valuable as a leader off the ice as well, helping keep the team motivated and on track despite the frustratioons.

Mallory Ruland (Badger Lightning) — Its impossible to question the dedication of a player that routinely traveled from Elroy to Baraboo for daily practices and Ruland was invaluable to the Lightning because of her ability to play in any situation.
Able to work on the boards on both offense and defense, Ruland kept it clean, collecting just three minor penalties in her senior season following up a penatly-free junior year and just five penalties total in 78 regular season games.
Ruland collected 15 goals and 31 points as a senior, finishing a 33-goal, 62 point four-year career. She notched three goals and six points on the powerplay and also picked up a short handed assist.

Defense:
Garret Mittelsteadt Sauk Prairie Eagles) — Mittelsteadt entered his junior season with just nine games of varsity experience but stepped up as an anchor on the blue line.
Some of the conference’s best defenders from the previous season graduated from the Eagles but if there were any questions about the blue line, they were answered in a resounding way, especially in conference games where Mittelsteadt helped the Eagles who allowed just 16 goals against in 10 conference matches.
He contributed offensively as well, scoring twice and picking up six points and he sat just three minor penalties.

Lukas Vana (Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston) — For a second consecutive season, the RWD team received some European help as Lukas Vana, an exchange student from Czech Republic stepped into a solid defensive role.
Vana appeared in all 24 regular season contests, collecting five goals and 20 points to rank third on the team in scoring and tops among defensemen. Vana was solid in his own end and played a part in defending Griebe and keeping shots to the outside whenever possible.
The rugged defender notched two short handed goals and collected an assist on another along with nine powerplay set ups.

Fourth Line

Forwards:
Reese Olson (Badger Lightning) — Olson stepped in for the Lightning in 2021-22 as a first year, scoring nine goals and 19 points for the Lightning, then added nine more goals and 24 points as a sophomore. A move to California (see story/interview) leaves a bit of a gap as Olson would have been counted on as a junior to build on her 43 point total.
Olson was a perfect fit on the Lightning, adding to an already aggressive squad, not shy about getting into the board battles but keeping it clean with just six minors on the season and 10 minors total.
A key on the powerplay, Olson collected a half dozen of her assists with the extra attacker this past season adding one more helper while shorthanded.

Gunnar Nachreiner (Sauk Prairie Eagles) — With so many of the team’s goals scored by the leading trio, Nachreiner, entering his junior season will be one counted on to help the team stay at a solid offensive level in the fall.
With seven goals and 11 points in his second season, Nachreiner will enter his junior year with 11 career goals and 29 points. He played a role on special teams with a powerplay goal and four set ups and he sat just eight minutes in minors himself.

Landon Olson (Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds) — Olson ranked second on the team in scoring with five goals and eight points along with the seven points he notched the previous season.
Another player who tried his best to lead by example, it had to be a challenge being a mentor on a team that struggled offensively as the Thunderbirds did.

Defense:
Monte Hartmann (Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds) — One of two senior leads on a T-Birds’ blue line, Hartmann teamed with Kyle Buelow to face an opposition barrage on a regular basis.
They did their best to limit chances against Schweda and deserve credit for their leadership by example and showing up for practice and workouts despite some tough nights at the office. Coach Bluske credited both for doing a good job of keeping things fun despite the many lopsided results.

Marc Othmer (Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells/Mauston) — A defensive defenseman, Othmer has done a solid job of filling any role asked, including stepping up to play forward on occasion for the Cheavers.
As a senior, Othmer will likely be counted on for leadership with minute munchers Brandt and Vana both needing to be replaced. Othmer is one of those player’s who appears invisible on the game sheet but plays a big role on the ice with quiet but determined play willing to do whatever is asked.

Players of the Year

— Luke Mast/Kayla Capener — Another decision just too difficult to make. Others could likely be included in the running as well, but these two stick out because of the contribution they made to their team.
Their on ice personnas are similar as well — both relying on speed, puck handling and grit to lead the way for their respective teams. Beyond MVP’s, it’s hard to imagine their teams being close to where they were without the presence of these players.
Capener and Mast have both been key contributors and played on the team’s top line since their sophomore seasons.
Offensively both were among the best in state, Capener finishing her career as the all-time leading scorer for the Lightning while Mast ranks second on his team despite an unreal 206 points in 80 career games and an average of nearly three points a game.

Who to Watch in 2023/24

Paige Othmer/Kyran Merrell –– These two should both be on one of the lines above if not for a personal policy of heaping praise on senior class players.
The next era for the Lightning will be interesting and fun as a team that has fought its way to respectability in the state’s toughest conference with an explosive offense will likely try to climb higher by limiting opposition chances.
Othmer and Merrell did more than make their presence felt — they led by an example and while their primary role will always be offering protection to Gada, they will likely be among the team’s offensive leaders in the next three seasons as well. They were fourth and fifth in scoring this past season already and the three players in front of them will all be gone when the season faces off this fall.
By keeping them apart, Head Coach Rick Capener helped give the team depth on the blue line but if they are together, the powerplay could be deadly.
Othmer is a great powerplay quarterback patrolling from the blue line and uses her size to full advantage on the wall. Merrell might be the team’s best skater with speed an agility and her best strength is moving the puck no matter how much ice is available.
Seniors (and Olson) accounted for 54 of the team’s 73 goals this past season so the challenge will be there for several of the team’s underclass to step up, aided by the work of Gada, Other and Merrell behind them.

Thomas Sarnow (Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds) — Not a bad first season for Sarnow who notched five goals on a Thunderbirds team that struggled mightily on the game sheet. A top player throughtout his youth career, Sarnow will be counted on for a lot on the T-Birds as a sophomore

Seniors highlighted at RWD final banquet

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Cheavers officially wrapped up the 2022-23 campaign Saturday night with its banquet/awards event at Bobber’s in Lake Delton.

Among the announcements at the event was the return of the entire coaching staff – Head Coach Neil Mattson, Assistant Coaches Mike Welch and Jeramy Greenwood, Goaltending Coach Rick Allison and junior varsity co/coaches Joe Uminski and Cade Mattson.

One change though will be Greenwood doing some double duty in the upcoming season as a counsellor, available for players who may be experiencing mental or emotional challenges. This change was deemed necessary by the coaches with some recent events and the recent local, national and international attention given to mental health issues in athletes.

“We’re hopeful this can be helpful for the young guys,” said Mattson.

After dinner, Mattson addressed the players and parents, setting goals (15-9 regular season record) for 2023-24 and praising the players for their respective roles this past season with special attention for the seniors.

It’s fitting the seniors garnered the attention as Mattson routinely relies on and leans heavily on the fourth-year skaters and they always deliver for him.

The Cheavers played through an interesting season, finishing the regular season at 14-10 and moving on to a 1-1 post season, ended by state tournament bound Verona Wildcats who feasted on the Badger West Conference with wins against the Cheavers, Sauk Prairie Eagles and Madison Edgewood Crusaders en-route to the state tourney.

Mattson pointed at the nine losses by a single goal as evidence things could have been much different with a few bounces.

Mattson said the senior players posted an overall record of 57-40-1 during their time with the Cheavers.

Honored first were the six team managers including senior Kaitlin Elder who stepped in this season as the team videographer and another pair of seniors, Stella Scott and Olga Hernandez who wrapped up a four-year run with the team. Other managers, Autumn Gillman, Megan Franz and Lydia Eastman were named and all six were presented with a gift from the coaches.

Seniors

From there, Mattson highlighted the performance of the team’s nine seniors including in order of jersey number:

John Scott – Scott relished the senior role collecting 19 goals and 34 points, nearly double the 19 points from his junior year. Over his four-year varsity career (including playoffs) Scott collected 64 points for the Cheavers and his aggressive physical play worked well.

John Scott (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

Mattson said Scott “played with passion…for the love of the game. He played for all the right reasons.”

Lukas Vana – Vana, a foreign exchange student from Czech Republic immediately improved the team on defense, making his presence felt on offense as will with five goals and 23 points on the season. Vana also fit in well off the ice said Mattson.

Lukas Vana (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

“He was one of the funniest guys in the locker room,” recalled the coach.

Caden Brandt – Simply put, Brandt is one of the greatest players to represent the Blue and White jersey and the Brandt brothers will be tough to replace. A class act both on and off the ice, Brandt overcame an early season injury scare to wrap up his third 20-goal campaign with 37 regular season points.

Over his career, Brandt put up 86 goals, second most in team history. He was an obvious First Team All-Badger Conference selection and moves on with a 142-point total. The best part of his stats could be the penalty minutes total – 24 minutes in 87 regular season contests.

Carsen Brandt – The defender gave an indication of his mental toughness came in his junior year when Brandt shrugged off a shoulder injury, putting off surgery until after the season.

Carsen Brandt (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

He returned 100 percent healthy for his senior year and was a leader on the blueline, called on in every situation. Like his brother, Brandt played clean, sitting just 32 minutes through 83 games and that was important as both were relied on heavily in penalty kill situations.

Also, a First Team All-Badger Conference member and a leader by example, Mattson summed up the thoughts of everyone in attendance saying, “Thank you for all you have done for this program.”

Yevgeny Dedun (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

Yevgeny Dedun – Dedun “Had a wonderful senior season,” said Mattson of the hard-nosed forward whose contributions don’t always show up on a score sheet. Dedun’s physical style punished opposition players and like the Brandt brothers he did it while avoiding infractions. Dedun was charged with just give minor penalties in the 22 games played this season despite being a physical player.

Caleb Eastman – Like Dedun, Eastman was an energy player who made the varsity lineup in his senior season through hard work and a great mental attitude. “He never complained,” said Mattson classifying the rugged winger as “one of the greatest role players you could ask for.” His hard work paid off as Eastman collected his first varsity goal.

Caleb Eastman (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

Nate Stando (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

Logan DeMars – Another anchor on the blueline, along with Brandt and Vana, DeMars chipped in on defensive unit that later shared a team award. Mattson said DeMars helped produce a “solid foundation on the blue line,” limiting opposition chances or making them fire the puck from well outside the scoring zone. DeMars has been counted on heavily by the varsity team, playing all 24 regular season games in both his junior and senior seasons and suiting up in a four-year total of 89 games.

Logan DeMars (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

Nate Stando – Perhaps the biggest improvement among the seniors came from Stando who used his size and reach to become a regular for the Cheavers. Mattson described his three-goal, 10-point season as a “breakout season,” adding his ability to find chemistry with whoever he was on the ice with as a plus.

Conner Putz (Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer)

“He bounced around from line to line,” early in the season said Mattson adding he fit in well with whoever he was on the ice with.

“He never worried about minutes, he just wanted to be a part of it.”

Conner Putz – Hard work and a positive attitude helped Putz get into the varsity lineup for a half dozen games in his senior season and he was also on the roster for the post season, a great reward for a player who did whatever was asked of him.

“He shows up every game with a positive attitude and a smile on his face,” said Mattson.

Awards

The Coaches wrapped up the night with the presentation of several team awards for both the junior varsity and varsity teams.

The coaches will all be back with RWD in the fall including from left: Rick Allison; Cade Mattson; Neil Mattson; Mike Welch and Jeramy Greenwood. Absent from the photo (with a team playing at the State tournament is Joe Uminski. (Photo Courtesy Jen Baldwin).

First, the JV squad honored a trio of players, Tristan Edgerton collecting Offensive Player of the Year honors and Nolan Pope earning Defensive Player of the Year while rugged defender Carter Renneberg received the ‘Mr. Hustle’ Award.

Coaches honored the entire defense corps, including of course, sophomore goaltender Alex Griebe for an awesome effort this past season.

With a penalty killing success rate of 84% among some other great statistics, Mattson said the defense corps “was one of the most solid groups we’ve had,” as a squad.

Also honored were the six team members that shared the role of team captain for 2022-23 including seniors John Scott, Caden Brandt, Carsen Brandt, Yevgeny Dedun and Logan Demars along with junior Brady Baldwin. Mattson also announced Baldwin will return as a captain in the fall along with incoming senior defender Iszak Elder.

Caden Brandt and John Scott became a two-headed scoring monster for the Cheavers this season and it was fitting they shared the Offensive Player of the Year Award and Nate Stando was rewarded for his breakout campaign as an easy selection for Most Improved Player.

Caden Brandt returned to pick up the ‘Triple D’ (Dedication/Desire/Discipline) Award and the Hobey Baker Character Award was handed to Caleb Eastman celebrating his attitude.

Each Coach presented a Coaches Legacy Award beginning with Coach Allison who honored Putz with his Award.

Coach Welch described Carsen Brandt as “Coachable, Respectful with a desire to Improve, all while keeping a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average for his Award.

Coach Greenwood gave his honor to junior Brendan Bychinski who he described as “Dedicated and Put the team first.

Mattson gave his Legacy honor to Nate Stando, who he described as “Coachable” and a Character player with a willingness to Learn.”

Also honored with Certificates, pins and in some cases, varsity letters in order were” Geo Rivas; Kaden Uminski; Nolan Pope; Tristan Edgerton; Trey Lariden; RJ Manley; Gus DeFosse; Mark Othmer; Carter Renneberg; Andrey Tougas; Kadin Bergenske; Jaxon Hess; Iszak Elder; Tye Barney; Bryan Mammos; Alec Breunig; Jonny Mata; Bryton Clark; Brendan Bychinski; and Alex Griebe.

Wrapping up the evening, the players took over the role of presenters, honoring their coaches along with announcer Brad Droste and the team’s public relations standout Jennifer Baldwin.

With many players moving on already to spring sports, Mattson said the team will once again welcome the incoming freshmen and begin the bonding experience with some off-season events, beginning with a grueling four-mile run and cookout June 12 and continue it with summer hockey and other bonding activities, all leading up to the start of a new season in November.

Lariden pair helps Chiefs cruise into postseason

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD varsity hockey team has had an up and down season but wrapped up the regular season with an impressive 4-0 shutout against the visiting Ashland Oredockers Saturday afternoon at the Lake Delton Ice Arena with an effort it hopes will translate into a successful playoff run.

The Oredocckers (14-9-1, Independent) were no match for a fast-paced Cheavers team and the score would have been wider if not for the efforts of sophomore goaltender Liam Fish who kicked out 57 of 61 shots faced.

RWD junior Trey Lariden opened the scoring with 4:01 to play in the opening period – one of two for the Cheavers in the period and he added another one of two in the third with the middle period going scoreless.

Junior Brady Baldwin and senior Caden Brandt helped out on the first goal and Brandt set up the other one as well.

Junior Andrey Tougas and senior John Scott fired the other Cheavers’ goals with assists for senior Yevgeny Dedun, Scott, Carsen Brandt and Logan DeMars.

Sophomore goaltender Alex Griebe collected his seventh shutout of the season.

The Cheavers celebrated their senior players and managers as well as their parents during The the first intermission. Included in that group are forwards: John Scott, Caden Brandt, Yevgeny Dedun, Caleb Eastman, Nate Stando and Conner Putz, defensemen: Carsen Brandt, Logan DeMars and Lukas Vana and managers Katlin Elder, Olga Hernandez and Stella Scott.

Eagles wrap up Badger West with shutout win

By Jim den Hollander
Editor/Publisher
Saukhockey.info
With senior Luke Mast leading the way, the Sauk Prairie Eagles varsity hockey team wrapped up its 2022-23 Badger West Conference schedule on a winning note Tuesday (Jan. 24).

The Eagles wrapped up second place in the conference with an 8-0 win at Stateline Ice and Community Expo (SLICE) in Monroe, wrapping up an 8-2 Conference schedule and boosting its overall regular season record to 14-4-2.

The Eagles all but settled the game with four unanswered first period goals despite a narrow 13-10 edge on the shot counter. The Eagles wrapped up the win with two more in both the second and third periods.
Mast, in the hunt for the overall state lead in scoring, put up four goals and set up another three to stay with the front runners. Freshman Landon Froese and sophomore Gunnar Nachreiner both added a goal and assist with other goals scored by juniors Steven Romaker and Colin Harrington. Junior Karsyn Banta chipped in two assists.

With the conference season wrapped up, the Eagles will finish the regular season, beginning Friday (Jan. 27) with a home game against the Muskego Co-Op Ice Force (9-12-0, 3-3 Classic Eight).
Next week, the Eagles will complete its home schedule against Madison West from the Big Eight Conference Tuesday and DeForest Norskies from the Badger East Thursday.

The regular season finale will take place in Tomah Feb. 7.

Goalies step up in Heroes Night game in Lake Delton

By Jim den Hollander
Editor/Publisher
Saukhockey.info
On a night that saw the RWD varsity and junior varsity teams honoring Hometown Heroes, the goaltenders stepped into that role for both the visiting Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds and the host RWD Cheavers. Thursday (Jan. 19) night.
RWD sophomore goaltender Alex Griebe wasn’t called on often, but he was perfect when needed, posting his fourth shutout of the season and his second clean sheet against the Thunderbirds in a 2-0 win.

As usual, Thunderbirds’ junior goaltender was supertasked in the blue paint and his 46 saves kept the Thunderbirds in the game until senior Lukas Vana buried the second Cheavers’ goal, an unassisted shorthanded marker 2:07 from the third period horn.

The shutout lowered Griebe’s Goals Against Average to 1.84 which ranks him sixth lowest in the state. Meanwhile, there doesn’t appear to be statistics to back it up, but Schweda has to be near the top of the list in shots faced.

The other RWD goal came from senior Carsen Brandt who snuck up from the blueline on an RWD powerplay to slam home a rebound. Twin brother Caden and Vana chipped in on an all-senior goal scored 4:35 into the contest.
The game was played in front of a packed house at Lake Delton Ice Arena.
The win boosted RWD’s current record to 9-7 and they sit at 4-4 in Badger West Conference play, a nice rebound after dropping three of their first four league games.

The Cheavers will hit the road for a pair of games this week, at Onalaska Tuesday (Jan. 24) and at LeBahn Ice Arena in Madison to take on the Edgewood Crusaders on Friday.

Thunderbirds fell to 3-16 on the season, but those three wins have all come since the Christmas Break. In Conference play, Thunderbirds have yet to post a win in nine contests with the unenviable task of taking on the undefeated (in conference) Crusaders in the season finale Feb. 10.

Thunderbirds have just one game this week, taking on the McFarland Spartans Tuesday (Jan. 24) to begin a stretch of three straight home games.

Burke Schweda faced another barrage iBaraboo/Portage Thunderbirds at Lake Delton Ice Arena Thursday, kicking out 46 of 48 in a 2-0 loss against RWD. Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer

Alex Griebe collected his fourth goose egg of the season Thursday, collecting the shutout against the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds at Lake Delton Ice Arena. ***Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer***

Janecke’s pair leads Cheesemakers past Thunderbirds

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

Having racked up some wins since the Christmas Break, the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds hoped to collect their first conference win and second in a row Tuesday but fell just short in a 2-1 loss against the Monroe Cheesemakers at PIerce Park Pavilion.

Monroe junior Wyatt Janecke spoiled the night for the Thunderbirds, scoring both Cheesemaker goals including the game winner just 30 seconds from the third period buzzer.

Janecke opened the scoring 6:45 from the end of the opening period but Thunderbirds’ senior Peyton Sloan responded 94 seconds later on a feed from freshman Jordi Beale.

Junior goaltender Burke Schweda stood out again in goal for the Thunderbirds, keeping this one even until the final minute despite a 59-37 edge in shots for the visitors. A 36-save effort for Xander Obert of the Cheesemakers was not too shabby either.

The Cheesemakers swept the season set with the Thunderbirds, taking the earlier meeting 4-1 at Stateline Ice Arena in Monroe Dec. 6.

Thunderbirds will continue a busy week at Lake Delton Ice Arena Thursday, taking on RWD in its next to last Badger West Conference game. They enter the contest winless in eight conference contests. Overall, Thunderbirds have six games remaining on the schedule. The next home game will be on Tuesday (Jan. 24) against McFarland Spartans of the Badger East Conference.

Peyton Sloan (center — pictured in a game against RWD) fired the lone goal for the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds Tuesday night, evening the score at 1-1 in the first period. The visiting Cheesemakers scored late to spoil the night for Baraboo/Portage 2-1. Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer

Beale’s pair leads Thunderbirds past Red Hawks

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds used a pair of first period goals from freshman Jordi Beale to vault them in front and send them on their way to their third win first home win of the season at Pierce Park Pavilion on Saturday (Jan. 14).

Thunderbirds got two more in the third to collect a 4-2 win against the Milton RedHawks in their Badger Challenge contest. They collected a win by the same score against the Red Hawks at a Stoughton tournament on New Year’s Eve.

Two more goals in the third period just over a minute apart broke a 2-2 deadlock and sent the Thunderbirds to the win.

Beale’s first goal was unassisted four minutes into the contest and the other, scoring 4:08 later was set up by senior Peyton Sloan.

Aaron Thompson, a Milton senior got the Red Hawks on the board with a little under five minutes to play in the first period and sophomore Ty Johnson tied it early in the middle period.

Sloan nailed the game winner 5:19 into the final frame with help from Beale and insurance came 79 seconds when Landon Olson scored with assists for Sloan and Dylann Carpenter.

Junior goaltender Burke Schweda collected his third win of the season with a 32-save effort and the Thunderbirds fired 41 shots against Benett Thompson at the other end of the pond.

The Thunderbirds improved their record to 3-14 on the season, but 3-5 since the Christmas Break as well.

They will head back to Badger West Conference play with a home game against the Monroe Cheesemakers on Tuesday (Jan. 17) and a test in Lake Delton against RWD on Thursday night.

Late goal lifts Golden Beavers into draw with Eagles

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

A third period goal lifted former conference rival Beaver Dam Golden Beavers into a 3-3 deadlock with the high-flying Sauk Prairie Eagles in their Badger Challenge match at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) on Friday, Jan. 13.

The Eagles and Golden Beavers hold down second spot in the Badger West and Badger East respectively and showed there isn’t much separating them head-to-head. Last season, these matches were all held on the same day in Sun Prairie but this season it is up to the respective teams to schedule their contest.

The Eagles entered the game with a 13-3-2 record, 7-1 in Badger West Conference play. The Golden Beavers were 9-4 on the season including 5-1 in Badger East Conference play.

Teams were even at 1-1 after a period as senior Luke Mast opened the scoring from freshman Josh Mast and junior Colin Harrington with 5:47 to play in the period only to have senior Alex Woods tie it for the Golden Beavers 1:32 later.

The Eagles took control 3-2 in the second with goals from senior Landon Clary and freshman Landon Froese. Luke Mast set up both with another assist for Harrington. Junior Jacob Lont countered with the long Beaver Dam marker in between the two Eagles’s goals.

Woods fired his second of the game just five seconds from the third period horn to pull the Golden Beavers even and teams were scoreless through an eight-minute overtime period.

Shots were almost even as well, Eagles’ senior goaltender Kaden Stracke stopping 34 while junior Henry Vick kicked out 35 for the Golden Beavers.

The Eagles were scheduled to move on to play a non-conference home game against Stevens Point Pacelli on Tuesday, then face a huge conference test against the Edgewood Crusaders on Thursday.

Panthers roll over Thunderbirds at home

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

Playing at home for the first time in three weeks, the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds were unable to use it to their advantage, dropping a 9-0 decision to the high-flying Oregon Panthers at Pierce Park Pavilion on Thursday (Jan. 12).

Despite a 16-6 edge in shots in the opening period, the Panthers grabbed just a 1-0 lead thanks once again to the standout goaltending of junior Burke Schweda.

The guests stepped up their attack in the middle period, peppering Schweda with a 29-6 edge in shots and widening the margin to 4-0.

Another five in the third period with a 24-2 edge in chances wrapped up the goose egg for the Panthers, led by junior Andrew Jicha who scored three and set up another pair for a five-point game.

After a long stretch on the road, the Thunderbirds began a stretch of three straight at Pierce Park Pavilion, followed Saturday (Jan. 14) with a rematch against the Milton Red Hawks followed Tuesday (Jan. 17) with a Badger West Conference match against the Monroe Cheesemakers.

Cheavers bounce back from so-so tourney showing

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

Unable to continue a two-year run as the champions of their own tournament, the Dells Ducks bounced back with some solid and promising performances to start the new calendar year.

The Sauk Prairie Eagles robbed them of a chance to mount a nice string, but the team is certainly rounding into shape for a solid regular season homestretch run.

Hopes of a third straight home tournament trophy ended quickly as the Kenosha Thunder edged them 2-1 on Dec. 28 in the opening round of the newly named Bobber’s Winter Classic, sending the home side to the consolation side of the draw.

The Rice Lake Warriors compounded the pain with a 3-1 win against the Cheavers the following day sending them to the seventh-place final for the first time ever.

The Cheavers took out frustrations with a 7-0 against the Avalanche made up of La Crosse area schools to avoid a winless showing at the event.

That win started some momentum for the Cheavers who returned from the Christmas Break with another goose egg – 8-0 against the visiting Waupaca Comets Jan. 3 and an impressive 2-1 edge in its return to Badger West Conference play on home ice against the Oregon Panthers.

The run ended though with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the host Sauk Prairie Eagles at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) on Tuesday (Jan. 10).

At the Winter Classic, the Cheavers scored the lone goal of the first period against Kenosha but couldn’t add another. The Thunder scored twice about four minutes apart in the final period. Against the Warriors it was the visitors on the board with the lone goal in both the first and second period before the Cheavers pulled one back early in the third. An empty netter with nine seconds to play clinched the win for the Warriors.

Against the Avs, the Cheavers scored once in the opening period adding two more in the second and putting it away with a four-goal final frame.

The Cheavers blitzed Waupaca with four first period markers, adding two in both the second and final periods.

The win on home ice against the Panthers was satisfying as it avenged a 3-2 overtime defeat in Oregon back on Dec. 2. A pair of first period goals was enough for the win but the Panthers gained some consolation, ending a stretch of 154:45 of shutout hockey for sophomore Alex Griebe in the second period.

Goaltender Alex Griebe, shown here against the Sauk Prairie Eagles had a stretch of more than 150 minutes of shutout hockey and Caden Brandt (#15) paced the offense with 11 points in a six-game stretch.
***Photo Courtesy Jessica Othmer***

At SPARC, the Cheavers were looking for a little more revenge having dropped its earlier home game against the Eagles 4-3 in overtime Dec. 6.

Teams were even at 2-2 after a period but the Cheavers were in control with a 4-2 cushion heading to the third. The host Eagles, still with a shot at a share of the conference title battled back in the third, scoring the game winner just 20 seconds from the final horn.

Offensively, senior Caden Brandt returned from injury and helped the Cheavers with five goals and 11 points over the six-game stretch, senior John Scott chipping in six goals and eight points. Another senior, Nate Stando enjoyed an offensive explosion, putting up five goals and seven points while senior Carsen Brandt added a goal and four helpers.

Senior Lukas Vana had four set ups, junior Andrey Tougas adding two goals and an assist and senior Logan DeMars collecting three assists. Junior Trey Lariden scored twice, junior Brady Baldwin added a goal and assist. Senior Caleb Eastman notched a goal and other assists came from sophomore Kaden Uminski and junior Iszak Elder.

Game winners came from Lariden, Scott and Stando.

In goal, despite a 3-3 record through the stretch, Griebe racked up the long shutout stretch and overall kicked out 108 of 118 shots for a save percentage of .915.

A postponed Badger Challenge game (The Cheavers will now host DeForest Norskies on Jan. 30) leaves a rare stretch of nine days without a game. Next up will be a game at the Lake Delton Ice Arena against the Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds. The Cheavers will renew the rivalry and host a ‘Hometown Hero’ game Thursday.