WAHA State Preview — Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘A’ Flyers

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

Sauk Prairie Flyers Bantam ‘A’ Flyers 23-12-1

Many, if not all members of the Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘A’ Flyers will be wrapping up the youth hockey portion of their respective hockey careers at the WAHA Bantam 3A State Championship in Marshfield this weekend.

The team wrapped up the lone Region 4 spot at the state tournament on Feb. 6 with a 4-2 edge against the RWD Cheavers in Sun Prairie. The day prior, the Cheavers earned its spot in the regional championship game with a 2-1 win (shootout) against the Monroe Avalanche.

The local bantam squad is tournament tested heading to Marshfield, putting up a record of 5-3 since the regional tournament and claiming the Bantam Championship at the Ultimate Tournaments Dairyland Classic on Feb. 20.

The Flyers move on to Marshfield as one of eight teams, beginning its state championship run against Ashland (25-9-3) at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Each team will play twice on Saturday, the Flyers hitting the ice again at either 6:30 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. against either the Tomah/Sparta (15-7-1 – incomplete) bantams or the host Marshfield Blades (no statistics available), depending on first round results.

Other teams included in the state tournament include the Tomahawk bantam Hatchets (no statistics available), Shawano Lightning (8-9-3 – incomplete), Somerset Spartans (21-10-5) and Waupun Youth Hockey (11-20-2).

Teams will return Sunday for four final games, beginning with the 7^th Place match at 9 a.m. and wrapping at 1:30 with the puck drop on the WAHA Bantam 3A State Championship game.

Representing the Sauk Prairie Flyers will be Quinn Payne; Brock Hill; Blayze Caldwell; Taitym Banta; Douglas Jolicoeur; Gavin Goetsch; Landon Froese; Greyden Schomber; Austin Klemm; Joshua Mast; Rylan Burch; Carl Weiss; Benjamin Hanko and Cameron McInerney.

Marshfield Area Ice Arena does have LiveBarn available so all 12 games should be available online.

Saukhockey.info would like to wish the Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘A’ Flyers luck this weekend in Marshfield.

The Sauk Prairie Bantam Flyers prepared for the WAHA Bantam 3A State Championship tournament with a championship run at the Ultimate Tournament Dairyland Classic Classic played in local arena, including SPARC February 18-21.

WAHA State Preview — Sauk Prairie Squirt ‘A’ Flyers

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

This is the first of six previews of WAHA State Championship tournaments involving local youth teams this weekend.

Sauk Prairie Squirt ‘A’ Flyers 18-10-2 (some game results missing) – Shawano

The Squirt ‘A’ Flyers will be representing Region 4 at the State Squirt 3A tournament to be held in Shawano.

The local squad was the top seed heading into the Region 4 playdowns, drawing a bye through the semi-final and straight to the finals.

The other finalist spot went to the RWD Cheavers who downed the Monroe Avalanche 8-2. The Flyers played host to the Cheavers in the Regional Championship match, collecting a 5-4 win.

All eight teams at the state championship tournament will play twice on Saturday. The Flyers will be in the third game of the day, against the Ashland Youth Hockey Squirts (18-18-1) at 11:30 a.m. at the Crawford Center in Shawano.

The teams faced each other for the first and only time this season this past weekend at a tournament in Ashland. A 9-3 win for the Flyers allows them to carry momentum into its opening game.

The second game of the day for the Flyers will be at either 4:30 or 5:45 p.m. and against either the Somerset Spartans (24-18-3) or the Lakeland Hawks (no statistics available) all depending on the teams’ performances in their opening game.

The other four teams taking part in Shawano include the Marshfield Youth Hockey Association Squirts (No statistics available); Shawano Lightning (No statistics available); Beaver Dam Golden Beavers (14-12-1) and the Waupaca Area Youth Hockey Association Squirts (33-11-4).

The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with the final game of the day facing off at 5:45 p.m.

Sunday will start with the seventh-place contest at 9 a.m. and wrap up with the state championship match at 1:30 p.m.

All 12 games at the Crawford Center will be available on LiveBarn.

Sauk Prairie Squirt ‘A’ Flyers include: Henry Zuelke; Bryce Argall; Isabelle Jolicoeur; Kelton Royster; Brayton Bahe; Luke Hager; Teresa Weiss; Mason Ramirez; Milo Donaldson; Oswald Tippery; Joshua Freeman; Cashton Suchla; Jonathon Bromley and Jaydon Teague.

Saukhockey.info wants to wish the Sauk Prairie ‘A’ Flyers good luck at their State Tournament in Shawano this weekend.

Arnold stops 31 to lead Cheavers past Eagles

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

After qualifying to reach the championship game with a 10-3 win the previous day against the Monroe Avalanche, the RWD Peewee ‘A’ Cheavers punched its ticket to the WAHA Peewee 3A State Championship tournament with a 3-1 win against the host Sauk Prairie ‘A’ Flyers at SPARC on Sunday (Feb. 6) afternoon.

Cheavers 10 Avalanche 3

The three-team regional pool had a semi-final Saturday at McFarland, the Cheavers advancing with the lopsided win.

The game was all but over after the opening 15-minute period as the Cheavers held a 7-1 edge. A 2-1 margin through the second had them up 9-2 and both teams added one in the final frame.

Ethan Wilcox led the way for the locals, firing four goals and adding an assist, Landen Uminski scoring a hat trick and an assist while Tyler Krieski notched two goals and set up another. The other Cheavers’ goal came from Evelyn Gurney with single assists for Teaghen Geffert and Noah Backeberg.

Jesse Arnold collected another win in goal with 13 saves and the Cheavers held a 39-16 edge on the shot clock.

Cheavers 3 @ Flyers 1

The win advanced the Cheavers to an all-Sauk County championship game at SPARC Sunday and Arnold came up huge in that one, kicking out all but one of the 32 shots he faced, including 14 down the stretch from a desperate Flyers’ team that threw everything it had at the Cheavers goal.

After a scoreless first period, all four goals came in the middle stanza, Michael Jolicoeur opening the scoring in the fifth minute for the Flyers with an unassisted goal.

Uminski evened the score, from Wilcox a short time later and it was Geffert burying the game and regional championship winner with 6:50 to play with assists for Uminski and Wilcox.

Kreski’s unassisted goal 100 seconds later added some insurance but this one had a long way to go to reach the finish line.

The peewee Cheavers will advance to the WAHA Peewee 3A State Championship tournament March 12-13 at Somerset. The entire field was filled on Sunday and the first game for the Cheavers at 11 a.m. March 12 will be against region 1 champions – Amery Warriors. More details on the tournament will appear in the days leading up to the opening game.

Members of the Peewee ‘A’ Cheavers celebrated its WAHA Region 4 Championship and berth in the WAHA State 3A Peewee Championship tournament. Pictured from right to left are: Evelyn Gurney, Dayne Wagner, Ethan Wilcox, Jesse Arnold, Noah Backeberg, Landen Uminski, Hailey Dietl, Teaghen Geffert, Tyler Krieski, Ethan Pope. *PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.*

Froese paces Bantam ‘A’ Flyers at Tomah tourney

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

After a lopsided opening win, the Sauk Prairie Bantam ‘A’ Flyers engaged in a pair of close battles on its way to a third place showing at a tournament in Tomah this past weekend.

The Eagles played twice Saturday, collecting a 7-0 shutout win in its opener against Black River Falls Tigers before dropping a heartbreaker in overtime 5-4 against the Sheboygan Lakers.

On Sunday, the Flyers engaged in another close battle, capturing third place honors with a 5-4 win against the La Crescent (MN) Lancers in a game that came down to a shootout.

Flyers 7 Tigers 0

The Flyers carried a 2-0 lead out of the first period against the Tigers, adding three more in the second and two more down the stretch.

Landon Froese led the way in this one, scoring three and adding an assist while Brock Hill notched two and added an assist.

Josh Mast and Gavin Goetsch sank the other Flyers’ goals. Quinn Payne collected a playmaker with three assists with other help coming from Blayze Caldwell and Ben Hanko.

Taitym Banta picked up the goose egg in goal stopping all seven shots from the Tigers.

Flyers 4 Lakers 5 (ot)

Froese enjoyed another big game later Saturday, his third goal of the game coming with 3:31 to play, pulling the Flyers even and sending the game to overtime. Unfortunately, it was the Lakers notching the game winner with 2:28 to go in the overtime frame.

Teams were even at 2-2 after a period and the Lakers led 3-2 heading to the final frame.

Caldwell fired the other Flyers’ goals with assists for Hill, Greydon Schomber and AJ Klemm. Banta made 20 saves in goal for the Flyers.

Flyers 5 Lancers 4 (so)

The script was similar Sunday morning, but this time it was the Flyers who saw a late goal against sending the game to overtime and finally, a shootout.

Teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after a period but the Flyers carried a 4-2 lead to the third. The Lancers didn’t surrender, finally pulling even with 3:28 to play and sending the game to overtime.

The extra session solved nothing, and teams went to a shootout where Mast and Weiss both fired goals to clinch the Flyers’ win.

Caldwell, Hill, Mast and Hanko notched the regulation goals, Hill adding an assist. Payne set up a pair of regulation goals with other assists for Goetsch, Carl Weiss, Klemm and Cam McInerney.

The weekend results boosted the Bantam ‘A’ Flyers season record to 17-9-1 and the team will be looking to punch its ticket to the State 3A Bantam Championship tournament, playing host to either RWD Cheavers or Monroe Avalanche at Sun Prairie Tubbs Rink Sunday at 11:15 (see story above).

Peewee Cheavers win two of three weekend tests

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Peewee ‘A’ Cheavers started a busy weekend taking a 10-0 knock from the Verona ‘A’ Peewees Saturday (Dec. 4) morning, but things improved the rest of the way.

On the way home, the Cheavers stopped at Hartmeyer Ice Arena in Madison Saturday afternoon and bested the Patriots 3-1.

On Sunday, the Cheavers played on home ice at RACA, collecting a 10-1 win against the Monroe Avalanche.

In the opener at Verona, goaltender Jesse Arnold was the busiest player in the game, facing 50 Verona Wildcats shots and turning away 40. The home team carried a 3-0 lead out of the opening period and widened it to 7-0 heading to the third.

At Hartmeyer, the Cheavers hit the scoreboard first, Ethan Wilcox hitting the mesh after taking a feed from Landen Uminski, but a last-minute goal had the host Patriots even by the end of the first period.

Tyler Krieski buried the game winner unassisted and Dayne Wagner added insurance with help from Wilcox later in the middle period.

Arnold made it stand up, stopping all but one of the 28 shots he faced and helping the Cheavers to the win despite being outshot 28-23.

The following day against the Avs, the local peewee squad picked up a big win against a regional opponent, carrying a 3-0 lead out of the opening period and building it to 8-1 in the second before wrapping up with two more unanswered in the final frame.

Krieski, Evelyn Gurney and Noah Backeberg scored twice each for RWD and Krieski also added a pair of assists. Andrew Stando, Wilcox and Teaghan Geffert each added a goal and assist, and Uminski set up a pair. Wagner fired the other RWD goal and Ethan Pope collected an assist. The Cheavers held a 35-9 edge in shots in the contest.

The loss on Saturday stopped a five-game Cheavers’ winning streak, but the team has now won seven of its last eight and heads into play this weekend sporting a 7-6-1 record.

On Saturday, the peewee Cheavers will play the Middleton ‘A’ Cardinals peewees at 5:15 p.m. at RACA, returning Sunday at 8:30 a.m. to play the Oregon ‘A’ Panthers peewees. Wrapping up the weekend, the locals will move to Lake Delton Ice Arena to play Waunakee Wildcats at 2 p.m.

Back to back hatties for Uminski

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Peewee A squad played host to the Viroqua Peewee Thunder on the weekend and sent them home disappointed with 6-1 and 7-2 wins at the Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA).

The first game ended up 6-1 but it was Viroqua on the board first, Caden Williams hitting the mesh with 1:44 to go in the first period.

The lead lasted 31 seconds before Tyler Krieski tied it with a set up for Ethan Wilcox and teams were even at 1-1 heading to the middle period.

Cheavers took its first and only lead 1:50 into the second with a goal from Landen Uminski, unassisted and Andrew Stando scored the next two before Uminski finished off a hat trick with two more in the third period. Krieski collected assists on two of the goals.

Jesse Arnold picked up the win in goal with 22 saves and Jack Ray stopped 19 in goal for the Thunder.

A few hours later teams hit the ice again and again it was the guests on the board first, Jackson Morrison netting his first of a pair 20 seconds into the contest.

Wilcox scored and teams were again even at 1-1 after a period. A second Wilcox put the Cheavers in front early in the second period, but Morrison notched the equalizer a few minutes later and teams were even again with 15 minutes to go.

Uminski fired his second game winner of the day and started his second hat trick of the day 4:46 into the final period and the Cheavers rolled to five unanswered goals in the period.

Krieski fired the other two RWD goals and Noah Backeberg wrapped up the game with a couple assists, others going to Stando, Wilcox and Dayne Wagner.

Another case of déjà vu saw Arnold once again getting the win with 22 saves and the Thunder had a pair of goalies combining on a 31-save effort.

The wins continued the team’s recent streak to five straight wins and after a tough start to the season, the Cheavers are now 5-5-1. They will look to climb over .500 for the first time traveling to the Madison area for three games.

On Saturday, the team will travel to Verona to play the Wildcats who defeated them in their first two games this season at RACA for a 9 a.m. faceoff and RWD will stop at Hartmeyer Ice Arena on the way home to faceoff against the Peewee Patriots at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, the Monroe Avalanche will be at RACA for an 11:30 a.m. contest, the first meeting between these Regional rivals this season.

Peewee A Flyers pound Jr. Knights

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

After dropping a 2-1 decision to the RWD Cheavers early in the day, the Sauk Prairie Peewee ‘A’ Flyers made the Beloit Jr. Knights pay a heavy price later Nov. 13.

The Eagles slammed home eight first period goals on its way to an 11-0 shutout win at Edwards Activity and Sports Center in Beloit against the host Junior Knights.

Ryker Hovland, Alexander Kirk and Rowan Krauss scored two each for the Flyers and Braden Schlough notched a goal and two assists in the win. Baryn Macleish-Breunig and Michael Jolicoeur notched a goal and assist, and the other goals came from Logan Harrington and Gavin Froese. Caden Argall chipped in an assist.

Jameson Ballweg collected the shutout win in goal.

The win against the Knights got the Flyers back on the winning track and boosted the team’s overall record to 4-2.

The team enjoyed this past weekend off and heads into action on the Thanksgiving weekend with a pair of games at Stateline Ice and Community Expo (SLICE) in Monroe at 9:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday against the host Avalanche

Breunig fires four to lead Bantam Cheavers past Ice Hawks

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

After dropping a pair of tough decisions Saturday, the RWD Bantam Cheavers came up with a big win for a satisfying end to a three-game weekend at Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA).

The weekend started out with a tough loss Saturday (Jan. 2) morning to Viroqua Thunder Bantams who pulled out a 2-1 win, scoring the game winner in the final period. Later Saturday the bantams ran into Region 4 rival, Monroe Avalanche, staying even with them through a period, but ultimately falling 9-1.

On Sunday, the Cheavers got a rare visit from the Stevens Point Ice Hawks and came out on top in a physical contest that saw the visitors rack up 21 minutes in penalties, by a 10-3 margin.

In the opening contest, teams exited the opening period without a goal scored and both notched one in the middle period, Kaden Uminski finding the mesh with help from Tye Barney and Tristan Edgerton.

Collin Simonson fired both Thunder goals.

Alex Griebe turned aside 24 of 26 shots in goal for the Cheavers.

Later Saturday the Avs led early but Barney pulled the Cheavers even just over two minutes later from Alec Breunig and teams were still even at 1-1 after a period.

Monroe added three more and piled up another five in the third period to pull away.

Griebe was easily the busiest player on the ice, kicking out 24 shots in the first period alone on his way to a 52-save contest.

On Sunday, the Cheavers opened a 3-0 first period lead and added another before the Ice Hawks finally hit the board halfway through the second period and cut into the margin a bit, Cheavers up 5-3 heading to the third.

Five straight unanswered third period goals tipped the scales heavily in favor of RWD through the final 17 minutes.

Breunig led the Cheavers with four goals in the contest, Edgerton adding a hat trick and an assist with other goals for Carter Renneberg and Gus DeFosse. Uminski had a couple assists with others for Kayla Garbacz, Bryan Mammos and Nick McPherson.

The weekend results moved the Cheavers to 15-5 on the season so far and the team is scheduled to play in a tournament at Sparta this weekend (Jan. 8-10)

Entire roster chips in as Squirt ‘A’ Cheavers crush Avalanche

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Squirt ‘A’ Cheavers collected an overwhelming win against the Monroe Avalanche Saturday (Jan. 2) that literally involved the entire roster.

The Cheavers continued their winning ways the following day, collecting a 7-0 win against the West Madison Polar Caps, extending its current winning streak to four games.

Nine players skated in the contest along with goaltender Jesse Arnold who picked up a shutout win between the pipes. All nine skaters hit the scoresheet in the contest.

Leading the charge with three goals and three assists apiece were Noah Backeberg and Joseph Patton while Aaron Belk chipped in a goal and four assists. Bryce Horkan recorded a four-goal game while Kason Messer hit the net three times. Shirlie DeFosse and Teaghan Geffert both collected a goal and two assists in the contest, other goals added by Kate Brandt and Evelyn Gurney.

The following day against the Polar Caps, Jesse Arnold stopped every shot he faced to post his fifth shutout and third consecutive goose egg for the Squirt Cheavers.

The home side went up 3-0 in the opening period, adding another in the second and three more down the stretch.

Leading the charge was Backeberg who racked up his second straight hat trick along with an assist while Patton notched two goals and a helper.

DeFosse and Horkan both had goals and Gurney added another assist.

The wins boosted the Cheavers’ overall record to 9-7-2 and the team is unbeaten in its past six games.

Next up for the locals will be a contest against Tomah Timberwolves at 3 p.m. Saturday and two games Sunday against Sun Prairie ‘B’ Cardinals.

The Cheavers played Timberwolves back on Nov. 29, playing to a 1-1 draw and the last meeting with the Cardinals was a 4-3 edge by the Cheavers, also at RACA.

Squirt ‘B’ Cheavers drop a pair at RACA

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Squirt ‘B’ Cheavers ran into some tough opposition on the weekend at Reedsburg Area Community Arena dropping a pair of decisions.

The locals dropped an 8-2 decision to the Monroe Avalanche Squirts on Saturday (Jan. 2) afternoon and returned to RACA Sunday and falling 4-1 to the Waunakee Wildcats C2 Black squad.

On Saturday, the local Squirts were facing a Squirt team that stuck around after facing the Squirt ‘A’ team earlier.

The Avs put up three unanswered first period goals to grab control of the contest. Briar Messer pulled one back with his unassisted marker 4:52 into the second to get the Cheavers within a pair but the Avs restored the margin just 11 seconds later and by the end of the middle frame they were up 7-2.

Cole Renneberg fired the second Cheavers goal with help from Elliot Wilcox and Rainier Scott.

Jase Uminski faced a 30-shot barrage in goal for the Cheavers, including an 18-shot second period.

Sunday’s game was weird. Of the five goals scored in the contest, all but two of them came in the final 30 seconds of the opening period.

The Wildcats opened the scoring 5:32 into the contest and added a second with 29 seconds to play in the period.

Messer responded with the lone RWD goal eight seconds later, but the Wildcats found the mesh one more time with seven seconds on the clock and carried a 3-1 lead into the second period, adding one more in the middle frame.

Aria Gada turned in the work in goal, facing 21 shots, 17 of them coming in the first two periods.

The weekend losses dropped the Squirt ‘B’ Cheavers to 4-12-2 on the season so far and ended the team’s four-game winning streak.

This weekend will see the Squirt ‘B’ Cheavers playing the final two games of a 10-game homestand as the Verona ‘C’ squirts pay a visit Saturday for a 1:45 p.m. game and the locals will get another crack against the C2 Black Wildcats on Sunday at 9:45 a.m.