Both Flyers bantam squads wrap up at State tourneys

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

Both Sauk Prairie Flyers Bantam teams made the trip to their respective State Championship tournaments this past weekend both the Bantam ‘A’ and Bantam ‘B’ Flyers returning home with Consolation Final hardware.

Both also faced a tough opening round opponent, going to the Consolation side of the draw with tough losses to eventual State Championship finalists.

The procedure was the same at every state tournament played last weekend, each team playing twice on Saturday and returning for one final match on Sunday.

In Shawano at the WAHA State 3A Championship tournament, the Bantam ‘A’ Flyers dropped a 5-2 decision to Ashland before bouncing back with a 7-3 decision against Marshfield Youth Hockey Blades. In the Consolation Championship game, the Flyers handled Waupun by a 7-2 score.

The Ashland bantams moved to the State Championship game before falling 3-2 against Tomahawk.

The weekend results wrapped up the WAHA season for the Bantam ‘A’ Flyers who posted a record of 25-13-1.

The Bantam ‘B’ Flyers were moved up from the WAHA State 3B to 3A Championship event facing some tougher caliber teams, due to a lack of teams at the 3B level.

After dropping a 4-2 decision to the River Falls Wildcats in its opening game the Flyers rebounded with a 6-2 win against the New Richmond Tigers.

That advanced the Flyers to the State Consolation Final where they handled the Mosinee Pride by a 6-4 score.

Flyers 2 Wildcats 4

The Flyers played the Cats even through a period, both teams scoring once. The Wildcats notched the lone goal of the second then outscored the Flyers through the final 15 minutes by a 2-1 margin.

The first period Flyers’s goal came from Tucker Acker on a feed from Jacob Wilhelm and the other Flyers’ goal was scored by Caleb Chetwood with an assist for Lucas Rehlinger.

Ethan Goodman handled the work in goal for the Flyers, stopping 29 of 33 shots.

The loss moved the Flyers to the Consolation side of the draw.

Flyers 6 Tigers 2

In the second-round game, played later on Saturday, the Flyers jumped in to a 3-1 first period lead and never looked back, adding one more unanswered marker in the second and outscoring the Tigers 2-1 down the stretch.

Slater Denu opened the scoring for the Flyers and set up the other two first period goals, scored by Ryan Flynn and Ryan Jorgenson before wrapping up his own hat trick with both third period goals.

The second period goal came from Chetwood with help from Greyson Dunn. Flynn and Dunn both collected assists as well.

Goodman stopped a dozen of the 14 shots he faced to help move the Flyers into the Consolation Final.

Flyers 6 Pride 4

On Sunday, the Pride and Flyers were even at 2-2 after a period and still knotted at 3-3 heading to the final period.

The Flyers finally grabbed control with two goals in the opening 2:36 of the final period, then matched then another in the middle of the period before Mosinee added one more in the final six minutes.

This time it was Chetwood with the hat trick to wrap up a five-goal weekend with goals in all three contests. Denu fired a pair and Tyler Jorgenson fired the Flyers’ first goal of the contest. Gavin Krueger chipped in three assists with others for Jacob Wiegmann and Flynn.

Goodman backstopped the win with 26 saves, including 14 of 15 in a wild third period.

The Bantam ‘B’ Flyers’ weekend record finished their season at 22-11-1. It was the final youth event for Chetwood, Flynn, Wilhelm, Acker and Denu who will all move under the Eagles’ umbrella next season.

Wilhelm sinks winner for Flyers against Wildcats

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Flyers Bantam ‘B’ hockey team wrapped up a split Dec. 11-12, opening with a tough 4-3 loss at McFarland Ice Arena against the host McFarland ‘B’ Spartans Dec. 11 before bouncing back the following day on home ice with a 3-1 win against the Waunakee ‘C’ Wildcats.

The team wrapped up the weekend later Dec. 12 with a 7-2 win in Reedsburg against the RWD Cheavers (see story below).

Against McFarland teams were even at 2-2 after a period, Slater Denu and Jacob Wilhelm counting the Flyers’ goals. The Spartans scored a pair of unanswered goals in the middle period, but Tucker Acker got the visiting Flyers within one with just under five minutes to go.

Kaleb Chetwood had set ups on two of the Flyers’ goals and Denu had an assist as well.

Goaltender Ethan Goodman was the game’s busiest player, kicking out 37 shots to keep it close despite a 41-17 edge on the shots clock for the Spartans.

The following day against the Wildcats, Acker converted a feed from Acker for the lone goal of the opening period, but Waunakee responded with the lone goal of the middle frame and teams were even at 1-1 heading to the final 15 minutes.

A pair of unassisted third period goals about two minutes apart made the difference in this one, the game winner fired by Wilhelm and the insurance goal by Ryan Flynn.

Goodman turned in another 27 save effort in goal to lift his team to the win despite a 29-28 edge in shots for the Wildcats.

The Flyers are scheduled to be back in action this weekend, traveling to Rhinelander for a tournament. The Flyers will begin with games against the Appleton Avalanche (10 a.m.) and host Rhinelander Hodags (7 p.m.) on Saturday and wrapping up Sunday against an opponent determined by the performance in the first two games.

Chetwood hat trick leads Flyers past Cheavers

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘B’ Flyers wrapped up a busy weekend with a trip to Reedsburg Area Community Arena where it picked up a 7-2-win Dec. 12 against the RWD Bantam Cheavers.

The Eagles grabbed control with three unanswered first period goals and three more in the middle period had the visitors up 6-1 heading to the final period where both teams added one more.

Kaleb Chetwood fired a hat trick and set up two others to pace the Flyers’ offense with other goals added by Jacob Wiegman, Tucker Acker, Slater Denu and Tyler Jorgenson.

Peewee Call up Landen Uminski and RJ Manley scored for the Cheavers with assists for Ethan Wilcox, also a peewee and Manley.

Jordan Kowalski stopped 28 shots in goal for the Cheavers and Ethan Goodman picked up the win with 19 stops for the Flyers.

Bantam Flyers wrap up 25-goal weekend

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘B’ Flyers added 25 goals and three wins to its total on three days from three different arenas this past weekend.

After playing host to the Madison West Polar Caps Friday at SPARC and opening the weekend with a 7-1 win, then hit the road to Brookfield Saturday for a 7-4 win against the host Elmbrook Eagles. Wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, the Flyers traveled to Pierce Park Pavilion in Baraboo playing as the guest and collecting an 11-1 win against the Waunakee Wildcats.

On Friday night on home ice, the Flyers carried a 2-0 lead into the second period and both teams scored once in the middle frame before the Flyers piled on another four in the third.

Kaleb Chetwood, on his way to a 10-goal weekend, scored four and set up another for the Flyers. Ryan Jorgenson scored twice and assisted on another, Slater Denu scoring the other and picking up an assist.

Jacob Wiegmann, Ronald Osborn, Lucas Rehlinger and Gavin Krueger each added an assist and Ethan Goodman picked up the win in goal stopping 13 of 14 Polar Caps shots.

On Saturday in Brookfield, the Flyers carried a 3-2 cushion out of the opening period and was still up by a goal at 5-4 after the middle session. Two unanswered down the stretch padded the Flyers’ margin.

Chetwood sank another hat trick and set up one with Flynn scoring twice with an assist as well. Denu and Wiegmann scored the other goals with single assists for Rehlinger, Jorgenson and Graysen Dunn.

Goodman added another with with 20 saves.

In Baraboo on Sunday, the Flyers jumped into a 6-0 cushion adding two more in the second and wrapping it up with a 3-1 margin in the third.

Wiegmann enjoyed a big offensive game scoring a goal and adding four assists.

Denu and Chetwood both collected hat trick, Chetwood adding an assist while Austin Smith and Flynn both scored a pair, Flynn adding a set up.

Osborn and Jorgenson both notched another assist and Goodman stoped all but one of 15 to snag his third game of the weekend.

This weekend the bantam Flyers will have visit another three rinks, beginnng Saturday with a road trip to McFarland to play the bantam Spartans, then returning home Sunday morning for an 8 a.m. contest against Waunakee and wrapping it up with a trip to Reedsburg to take on the host RWD Cheavers.

Bantam Flyers take two from Warhawks

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘B’ Flyers grabbed three weekend wins to boost its season opening record to a perfect 4-0.

A unique home-and-home set with the Waukesha Warhawks saw the locals making the trek to Naga-Waukee Ice Arena in Delafield and grabbing a 2-1 win against the host Warhawks Saturday, then returning home to the Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) for a 5-3 win against the same team later in the day.

On Sunday, the bantams traveled to Baraboo’s Pierce Park Pavilion to wrap up the weekend with a 6-3 win against the Baraboo/Portage Bantam T-Birds (see related story).

Flyers 2 @ Warhawks 1

The Warhawks opened the scoring in this one, but that would be the lone goal of the contest for the home team thanks to a solid 28-save performance from Ethan Goodman in the Flyers’ goal.

Ryan Flynn scored the equalizer before the game was five minutes old and the 1-1 draw stood up all the way to the final period when Flynn struck again with the game winner inside the final four minutes of the contest.

Kaleb Chetwood and Tucker Acker both collected assists in the game for the Flyers.

Warhawks 3 @ Flyers 5

In the rematch, the Flyers finally got a chance to play on home ice and once again battled back from an early deficit.

Chetwood converted a feed from Acker with 15 seconds to play in the opening period to even the score after a Warhawks’ goal in the second minute of the contest.

Jacob Wiegmann put the Flyers in front for the first time from Chetwood and Flynn early in the second period, but it was the Warhawks with a 3-2 edge at the break.

Austin Smith took over in the third, evening the score 4:32 into the contest and burying the game winner with 2:17 to play. Gavin Krueger and Tyler Jorgenson picked up assists on one of the Smith goals.

Chetwood clinched the win with 63 seconds to play taking a pass from Jorgenson.

Goodman picked up his second win of the day with 19 saves.

Peewee B Flyers take a pair from Comets at SPARC

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Peewee B Flyers made the trek to Waupaca to collect a pair of wins against the host Peewee Comets.

After a 3-0 shutout win in the opening contest, teams returned a few hours later and notched a 4-1 decision at Waupaca Expo Center.

In the opening match, Ethan Goodman recorded a 15-save shutout for the Flyers with the game winning goal scored by Cyril Welch. The other two goals came from Jacob Wiegmann and all three goals were unassisted.

Teams returned later for a rematch. This time the Flyers carried a 2-0 lead out of the first period and were up 2-1 heading to the third.

Caden Argall converted a pass from Blake Dederich for the first Flyers’ goal and Ryan Jorganson sank the game winner from Ethan Goodman in the game’s fourth minute.

Kash Caldwell restored the two-goal cushion early in the final period from Baryn McNeish and Argall’s second added some insurance with a little under four minutes to play.

Jameson Ballweg stopped 16 of 17 in goal for the Flyer to collect the victory which raised the team’s overall record to 15-8.

The Peewee ‘B’ Flyers have a big game ahead as they take on the RWD ‘B’ Cheavers at 12:15 p.m. at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) for the Region 4 berth at the WAHL Peewee 3B Championship tournament which will be played at Rhinelander.

Peewee ‘B’ Flyers capture wins in three of four on busy weekend

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Peewee ‘B’ Flyers wrapped up a busy weekend Jan. 23 capturing wins in three of four contests.

On Saturday, the locals started out with a 3-2 edge against McFarland at Sauk Prairie Arena Recreation Center (SPARC), then stayed on home ice for a 6-3 win against the Madison Polar Caps Green Peewees.

The Flyers hit the road for a pair on Sunday, beginning with a 5-4 win at Sparta Youth Hockey Rink then stopping at Viroqua on the way home where a 10-game winning streak came to an end with a 3-2 loss against the host Thunder.

McFarland Spartans 2 @ Sauk Prairie Flyers 3

Teams were even at 1-1 after a period, Caden Argall collecting the lone Flyers goal unassisted.

Both teams added one more in the second, Jameson Ballweg notching the Flyers’ goal on a setup from Tyler Jorgenson.

That set the stage for Argall who collected the lone goal of the final period which stood up as the game winner.

Ethan Goodman turned aside 21 of 23 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Flyers.

Caden Argall backhanded the game winning goal past the McFarland keeper late in the game in the first of four weekend matches for the Sauk Prairie Peewee ‘B’ Flyers.

Madison Polar Caps 3 @ Sauk Prairie Flyers 6

The Flyers scored twice in each period against the Caps, carrying a 2-0 lead into the second period and up 4-1 with a period to play.

Argall collected four goals in the contest to lead the Flyers, other goals added by Goodman who skated out and Ryan Jorgenson. Jacob Wiegmann picked up three assists in the contest with others for Jorgenson and Blake Dederich.

Ballweg took a turn in goal and kicked out 23 shots to pick up the win.

Sauk Prairie Flyers 5 @ Tomah/Sparta Titans 4

The Flyers grabbed control of this contest, opening a 3-1 first period lead and ultimately held off the Titans for the narrow win.

Wiegmann, Baryn Macleish, Kash Caldwell, Cyril Welch and Argall fired the Flyers’ goals, Argall with his second straight game winner. Tyler Jorgenson, Argall and Ballweg collected assists in the contest.

Sauk Prairie Flyers 2 @ Viroqua Thunder 5

The streak came to an end in Viroqua as the visiting Flyers fell behind 2-0 in the opening period and trailed 3-1 heading to the final period.

Wiegmann and Argall fired the Flyers goals, both unassisted.

Ballweg turned aside 21 shots, including 15 in the first period, for the Flyers.

The weekend results boosted the overall season record for the Flyers to 16-9 – not too shabby for a team that dropped six of its first eight games to start the season.

Jorgenson helps power Flyers past Cheavers Peewee B’s

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Peewee ‘B’ Flyers and RWD Peewee ‘B’ Cheavers showed a potential preview to what could be a thrilling Regional match up in their meeting at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) on Sunday afternoon, the host Flyers rallying for a 2-1 win.

Dayne Wagner put the visitors up with the lone goal of the opening period, assisted by Cassidy Putz. That proved to be the only shot, of 15 to elude Flyers’ goaltender Jameson Ballweg in this contest.

The Flyers struck back in the middle period, Ryan Jorgenson connecting for the tying goal 5:07 into the period and then setting up the game winner, fired by Ethan Goodman about two minutes later.

The third period saw goaltenders facing the most shots, but Olivia Renneberg turned aside all nine shots she faced, on her way to a 29-save effort and Ballweg kicked out all eight Cheavers’ shots.

The last time these two teams met was also a single goal difference, the Flyers collecting a 6-5 win on Dec. 20 at Reedsburg Area Community Arena and they also squared off at SPARC back in late November, the Flyers capturing an 8-5 win.

Peewee 3B Regionals will be held in early February and the State Championship tournament for teams at this level will be played in Rhinelander March 13-14.

Natural hat trick for Mortimer leads Peewee B Cheavers to win column

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Peewee ‘B’ Cheavers enjoyed its best weekend of the season so far Dec. 19-20, grabbing wins in two out of three games all played at Reedsburg Area Community Arena and snapping a winless streak dating back to Nov. 29.

After collecting a 4-1 win against the Onalaska/Holmen Tornado Saturday, the Cheavers battled back for a 4-3 win against the Verona Wildcats ‘C’ team early Sunday, then gave the Sauk Prairie Flyers all it could handle and falling just short on another comeback attempt 6-5.

Tornado 1 @ Cheavers 4

In the first game, Dec. 19 against the Onalaska/Holmen Tornado, Noah Mortimer collected a rare natural hat trick scoring all three goals as the Cheavers opened a 3-0 first period cushion, including the first 52 seconds into the contest.

All three were unassisted and Mortimer collected his fourth point with an assist on a goal for Olivia Renneberg halfway through the second period. Aiden Knull also helped on the goal.

Meanwhile, Mason Mattson turned in a great effort in goal, beaten just once on 10 shots when the Tornado struck for its lone goal in the fifth minute of the third period.

Below is the third goal of the period for Noah Mortimer

Wildcats 3 @ Cheavers 4

The Cheavers found themselves looking up at a 2-0 deficit after a period Sunday but rallied back to tie with two unanswered middle period goals. Caydence Putz provided the first goal for the locals, from Andrew Stando and Backeberg just past the five-minute mark of the second.

Andrew Stando took over from there, tying the game with 28 seconds to go in the period with his first of three.

Stando gave the team its first lead with another unassisted tally 61 seconds into the third period but the Wildcats pulled that back less than a minute later.

The game winner came on a feed from brother Matthew, Andrew Stando slamming it home with one second to play.

Below is Stando’s last second goal.

Flyers 6 @ Cheavers 5

Possible Regional opponents squared off in a doozy of a match in the final game of the weekend for the Cheavers, the visiting Flyers holding off a late charge by the Cheavers for the win.

Both teams scored two goals in the opening period, but the visitors carried a 6-3 lead into the third before the Cheavers went to work.

After earlier hat tricks, both Andrew Stando and Mortimer found the mesh for an unassisted first period goal and Mortimer added the lone Cheavers’ goal of the middle period.

Those first period goals came in response to Flyers’ goals for Baryn Macleish and Ryan Jorgenson who set up the first goal. Tyler Jorgenson also picked up an assist.

In the second period, the Cheavers experienced their second natural hat trick of the weekend, this time on the receiving end as Caden Argall struck for three goals in 4:36 to rally back from a 3-2 deficit into a lead the Flyers wouldn’t relinquish.

Kash Caldwell added another for the Flyers a couple minutes later unassisted and the opening goal of the middle period was another goal for Mortimer, unassisted.

The Cheavers went to work trying to chip away in the third period, Backeberg scoring early in the period then adding another, from Mortimer who wrapped up a seven-point weekend with 5:27 to play.

That was also close as the Cheavers would get in this one though.

Ethan Goodman and Jameson Ballweg split the work in goal for the Flyers, Goodman handling six of nine in the first half and Ballweg turning aside three of five in the second half. For the Cheavers, Olivia Renneberg stopped 15 shots.

The successful weekend boosted the Cheavers overall record to 4-8-3. They will look to build on that success right after Christmas as they play host to Sun Prairie C2 twice on Dec. 26 and Sun Prairie C1 the following day. The Cheavers earned a 4-4 tie with Sun Prairie C2 on Dec. 6.

The Flyers were wrapping up a two-win weekend having defeated the Dodgeville Ice Wolves on the road Saturday and the wins boosted their overall mark to 5-7 and they are out of action until Jan. 2.