RWD faces tough schedule in 2021-22

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The focus of high school sports is currently fall sports – football, cross country, boys’ soccer, girl’s golf and tennis, swimming, and volleyball.

We know several players from local teams are already taking part in before/after programs and varsity high school teams will be stepping on the ice in the next few days or weeks to begin captain’s practices, allowing students to begin preparing for their upcoming seasons.

For the RWD Cheavers, the actual season will begin Nov. 5 with a get together at Monk’s with practices getting underway three days later.

The annual pre-season scrimmages will take place at West Salem with both the host Panthers and DeForest Norskies taking part.

For the seventh time in nine seasons, the Cheavers will open the campaign against the Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln Red Raiders. The other two times the teams squared off in the second game of the campaign. This time around the game will be played at the South Wood County Recreation Center.

New this season will be a Thanksgiving Weekend tournament in Somerset and the other Holiday tournament, the annual Monk’s Cheeseburger Classic will return to its normal eight-team field with several new teams raising the caliber of the event.

The Somerset event will involve both the varsity and junior varsity teams with other teams from Eau Claire North, New Richmond and of course, the host Somerset teams taking part.

The RWD varsity team will open the event on Nov. 26 against the Eau Claire North Huskies immediately followed by the JV Cheavers against the New Richmond JV Tigers. Opponents and start times for the second day will depend on game results.

The Monk’s Battle for the Cheeseburger Classic will see familiar teams like Wisconsin Rapids, Tomah, McFarland, and Kenosha, but will also this season involve the Onalaska Hilltoppers, La Crescent Lancers and River Falls Wildcats.

Here is a look at the RWD Cheavers’ schedule as of Sept. 1. Games and start times are subject to change between now and the start of the season.

One different thing this season will be the Badger Conference Challenge which will pit teams from the Badger West against the Badger East. Opponents and start times will be determined based on standings at the time and the site is still to be determined as well. It will be played Jan. 15.

Badger West Conference games are in bold type.

November

23 — @ Wisconsin Rapids

26-27 — @ Somerset Spartans Holiday Tournament

30 — vs. Onalaska Hilltoppers

December

3 – vs. Edgewood Crusaders

7 – vs. Baraboo Thunderbirds

9 — @ Monroe Cheesemakers

11 – vs. Baldwin-Woodville Hawks

14 — @ Oregon Panthers

17 – vs. Sauk Prairie Eagles

21 — @ Tomah Timberwolves

28-30 MONK’S BATTLE FOR THE CHEESEBURGER CLASSIC

January 2022

4 — @ Waupaca Comets

6 or 8 — @ Edgewood Crusaders

11 — @ Baraboo Thunderbirds

15 — @ Badger Conference Challenge

20 – vs. Monroe Cheesemakers

25 – vs. Oregon Panthers

27-29 JV Tournament at Lake Delton Ice Arena (Hosted by DeForest)

February

1 – @ Sauk Prairie Eagles (JV @ Monroe)

4 — @ Hayward Hurricanes

5 — @ Ashland Oredockers

8 – vs. Janesville Bluebirds

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.

Varsity Cheavers looking to make a little more history

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD varsity Cheavers took a giant step in what could be a memorable season – at least if history means anything.

The Cheavers collected their fourth Monk’s Cheeseburger Classic at Lake Delton Ice Arena in the 11^th year of the tournament.

Of the three previous titles, two have gone to RWD varsity teams that have gone on to claim a Sectional championship and earn a berth at State quarterfinals.

This season’s team is considered young and that is setting the bar perhaps a little too high, but that box, which is part of the previous two title runs, has now been checked. The first ‘Classic’ was held in the inaugural season of the RWD Co-operative effort between Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Mauston High Schools.

The first event was also the only one to see a team from outside of Wisconsin involved and the most exciting championship game of the tournament so far saw the Cheavers winning in overtime against Prairie Ridge from Illinois. The Cheavers won its first six games at the tournament, capturing the second title as well with a 5-2 win against Kenosha, the same team that handed RWD its first tournament defeat in the opening round a year later.

The other RWD title came in the 2014 version of the tournament and it was the turning point on a season that saw the team start out 5-4 before three wins led to the tournament title, doubling as the first three wins in a 19-game unbeaten string, the final one a 4-0 win against rival Baraboo/Portage in Onalaska for its second Sectional Championship.

Following is a quick look at the first 11 Monk’s Cheeseburger Classic tournaments – how the Cheavers fared and who won the event.

2010 – Cheavers defeat Sauk Prairie 8-2, the qualify for the championship game with a 6-0 win against Steven’s Point Pacelli before capturing a thriller in overtime against Prairie Ridge, the only Illinois-based team to ever participate in the event.

2011 – Once again RWD led off with a win against Sauk Prairie, this time a 4-1 decision before a 9-1 win against Madison Lafollette sent the team to its second straight championship game, won against Kenosha 5-2.

2012 – The string ended in the opening round of this event as Kenosha avenged its championship loss the previous season with a 6-5 overtime win to send RWD to the losers’ side of the bracket for the first time.

The Cheavers rallied with a 3-1 win against Beloit Memorial and a 3-2 win against Beaver Dam to finish fifth overall.

Kenosha Thunder took the Monk’s title home following a 3-2 win against West Salem in the championship game.

2013 – After opening with a 3-0 win against West Berlin, the Cheavers were denied a spot in the championship following a 5-1 loss to Fox Cities Stars who went on to hand West Salem its second straight 3-2 defeat in the championship game.

The Cheavers dropped a 5-4 decision to Viroqua Blackhawks in the third-place game.

2014 – The Cheavers rebounded from its first losing record the previous season with its third title in five seasons, starting out with a 2-0 win against Stoughton and back-to-back 5-2 wins against Menomonie and, in the championship, Beloit Memorial. Those were the first three games of the 19-game unbeaten string that marched RWD all the way to the State Championship tournament.

2015 – After defeating DeForest Norskies in a combination tournament/Conference game, the Cheavers shutout New Berlin to reach the championship game again. For the first and only time, the Cheavers fell in the Championship match 3-1 against the Stoughton Vikings.

2016 – Once again the Cheavers opened with DeForest, but this time it was the Norskies moving on to the winners’ side with a 3-2 win. A 4-0 win against Tomah and another win against Stoughton wrapped up fifth place for the Cheavers.

Wisconsin Rapids claimed the tournament title with a 7-3 win against New Berlin.

2017 – All three games for RWD went to extra time in 2017. After a hard-fought 6-5 win against McFarland in its first game, the Cheavers fell to Wisconsin Rapids in extra time in the middle round, before earning a 5-4 win in overtime against DeForest in the third-place game.

The Championship game also went to overtime as Fox Cities denied Rapids back-to-back burgers with a 3-2 overtime win, becoming the first team, apart from the Cheavers to win a second Monk’s title.

2018 – After a 4-0 win against Stoughton in the opening round, the Cheavers missed on a berth in the championship game, denied by 5-3 loss to McFarland who went on to drop a 3-1 decision to Tomah/Sparta in the championship match.

The Cheavers settled for third place with a 5-2 win against DeForest.

2019 – After opening the tournament with a 6-0 win against the Avalanche ( La Crosse), the Cheavers lost to McFarland for a 6-5 decision to McFarland once again, before dropping a 4-2 decision to DeForest in the third-place match.

The McFarland Spartans moved on to claim the Cheeseburgers with a 7-2 decision against Rapids who reached the title match three times in four seasons but won it only once.

2020 – The field was cut in half for this season and the Cheavers became the first team to not allow a goal in tournament play, following up a 5-0 win in the opener against Tomah/Sparta with its most lopsided win ever against the Red Raiders, 7-0.

Third place went to Tomah/Sparta following a 5-1 win against Viroqua.

Thanks to Gary Wiles and Aaron Kirby (Championship pic) for photos below.

Peewee Cheavers take two of three on the road

RWD Peewee Cheavers wrapped up a 2-1 weekend on the road with 5-0 and 9-2 wins at Waupaca against the host Comets before wrapping up against a strong Tomah Timberwolves team on Sunday and absorbing a 9-1 defeat.

In the first game against the Comets, Landon Uminski scored the game winner in the second period, adding another later with singles for Matt Stando, Payton Kowalski and Noah Mortimer. RJ Manley collected a couple assists in the contest with others for Aiden Knull and Ethan Wilcox.

Jordan Kowalski was perfect between the pipes, grabbing the shutout.

In the second game, the Cheavers blasted out of the gate for a 5-1 first period cushion and never looked back.

Knull and Payton Kowalski both notched a pair of goals, Elizabeth Haag adding a goal and assist and other goals for Stando, Wyatt Arnold and Dayne Wagner. Manley set up a pair with another assist for Wilcox.

The peewees knew they were in tough against the Timberwolves who jumped into a 4-0 lead and built on that. The Cheavers gained some satisfaction, denying the host a shutout thanks to a goal from Wilcox just 2:48 from the horn.

Cheavers, T-Birds, Flyers and Monkeys weekend schedules

By Jim den Hollander

Publisher/Editor

Saukhockey.info

It’s a light weekend – in fact, a couple weeks for RWD Cheavers youth hockey teams, but there are plenty of games in the hopper for the other youth squads head into the weekend.

RWD CHEAVERS

Peewee A – A tough test on the road Sunday for the Peewee ‘A’ squad that makes the trip to Tomah to play one of the top peewee teams in the area.

Bantams – The bantam Cheavers will get its first tournament test of the season making the trip to West Salem. Although opponents are still too be announced, games times of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday as well as 11 a.m. Sunday already appear on the schedule.

BARABOO T-BIRDS

Peewee – The Peewee T-Birds will entertain West Salem peewees at Pierce Park Pavilion for a pair of games on Saturday with puck drop at 9:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

Bantam – T-Bird Bantams have a busy weekend with three games scheduled. The first game will be Saturday at 3:45 p.m. at Pierce Park Pavilion at 3:45 p.m. and the T-Birds hit the road Sunday to play at Viroqua Community Arena with 10:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. games against the host Viroqua Thunder.

SAUK PRAIRIE FLYERS

Squirt – The Squirt ‘A’ Flyers will be at Stateline Ice and Community Expo for a road contest against the Monroe Avalanche Sunday at 4:45 p.m.

The Squirt ‘B’ Flyers have a busy weekend, beginning with a visit from the Waunakee C2 Wildcats Saturday at 9 a.m. and then Sunday the C1 Warriors will be in town for a 1:15 p.m. contest.

Peewee – The Peewee ‘A’ Flyers will entertain the Sun Prairie ‘B’ Cardinals in a 5:15 p.m. contest at SPARC on Saturday, then travel to Stateline Ice and Community Expo to play the Monroe Avalanche at 2:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

The Peewee ‘B’ Flyers entertain the Sun Prairie C1 peewees at SPARC on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.

Bantam – The Bantam ‘A’ Flyers will play host to the West Madison Polar Caps at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at SPARC and will hit the road Sunday to play the Monroe Avalanche at Stateline Ice and Community Expo Sunday at 1:15 p.m.

The Bantam ‘B’ squad heads to Monroe on Friday night for a 7:45 p.m. game against the Monroe ‘B’ Avs then moves on to the Ponds of Brookfield Ice Arena to square off against the Elmbrook ‘C’ Eagles in a 7:10 p.m. match. Sunday will see the Flyers back in Monroe for a rematch against the ‘B’ Avalanche at 11:45 a.m.

SAUK PRAIRIE MONKEYS

U-10 – The U-10 Sauk Monkeys will open its 2020-21 campaign Saturday in Beaver Dam with a 10:45 a.m. contest against the U-10 Beaver Dam Wildfire

U-12 – Some cancellations lightened the schedule somewhat for the U-12 ‘A’ Monkeys who will also be in Beaver Dam this weekend for a 12:15 p.m. match Saturday against the Wildfire U-12’s.

The U-12 ‘B’ squad will entertain the Washington County Lynx in a contest at 2:45 p.m. at SPARC.

U-14 – The U-14 Monkeys will travel to Beaver Dam Saturday for a return match at 1:45 p.m. Saturday having entertained the same squad at SPARC the previous weekend.

Flyers-Cheavers peewees faceoff to start new season

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Flyers and RWD Cheavers Peewee ‘A’ squads both got their respective seasons started this past Saturday morning at Reedsburg Area Community Arena in Reedsburg.

The Flyers opened with an impressive 10-0 season opening win, but by the end of the day, both teams were at 1-1 on the season as the Cheavers returned to the ice for a 3-0 shutout against Waunakee Peewee C1 Red while the Flyers returned home and faced a tough challenge from Tomah Timberwolves who grabbed an 8-1 win

Flyers 10 @ Cheavers 0

The visiting Flyers opened the scoring 26-seconds into the opener but Jordan Kowaski stood tough in the Cheavers’ goal, turning aside 12 of 14 shots faced in the opening period. The Flyers found the openings for five more in the middle period, then finished the game with three down the stretch.

For the Flyers, Graysen Dunn and Taylen Graf shared the shutout, combining to make 13 saves.

Carl Weiss scored three and set up another to pace the Flyers’ offense, Quinn Payne and Douglas Jolicoeur adding two each with singles for Ben Hanko, Michael Jolicoeur (who added an assist) and Rylan Burch. Greydon Schomber picked up two assists in the contest with other help from Austin Smith.

RWD 3 @ Waunakee 0

This time it was the Cheavers on the board quick as Tyler Krieski scored the first goal of the season for his team 40 seconds in.

That stood up until Aiden Knull doubled the margin, converting a feed from Landen Uminski late in the second period. Hailey Dietl added some insurance with her third period goal on a set-up from Knull.

Olivia Renneberg notched the shutout in goal for the Cheavers, turning aside all 18 shot s she faced, helping her team collect the win despite being outshot 20-18.

Tomah Timberwolves 8 @ Sauk Prairie Flyers 1

Full details will be added on this con as they become available.

Squirt Cyclones wrap up third at Hayward tournament

Pictured are members of the South Central Cyclones Squirt A team who finished third at a Hayward tournament this past weekend. Team members include: Landen Uminski; Hailey Dietl; Tyler Krieski; Dayne Wagner; Lukas Schulz; Joseph Patton; Ethan Wilcox; Ethan Pope; Teaghan Geffert; Evelyn Gurney; Jenna Garbacz; and Olivia Renneberg

The South Central Cyclones Squirt A squad wrapped up a third place showing at a tournament in Hayward this past weekend.

The local squad battled three Minnesota-based teams, starting with an impressive 8-1 win against the Waconia Wildcats in the opener Saturday morning, then dropping a 7-1 decision to the Woodland Whalers later the same day. In the third place match on Sunday, the Cyclones pulled out a 2-1 against the Duluth Heights Hornets.

In the first game, the Cyclones opened a 3-0 first period lead and owned a 5-1 cushion heading to the final frame.

Landen Uminski paced the offence in the opener, scoring three goals and adding an assist and Ethan Pope collected a goal and three assists. Hailey Dietl notched a goal and two assists, Tyler Krieski and Joseph Patton adding a goal and assist apiece. The other goal came from Ethan Wilcox and Dayne Wagner collected an assist.

Olivia Renneberg picked up the win in goal, stopping all but one of the 22 shots she faced.

The Whalers owned a 2-0 cushion after a period and widened the gap to 5-1 in the second. Uminski fired the lone Cyclones goal unassisted and Renneberg turned in a 23-save performance.

In the third place contest, the Hornets scored the lone first period goal but an unassisted goal from Teaghen Geffert tied the score in the middle period. Uminski stepped up with the game winner with 6:22 to play in the contest and Renneberg turned aside 10 shots for her second win in goal.

This Saturday will be the last chance to catch the local Squirts in action as they are scheduled to play a pair at the Reedsburg Area Community Arena and as of now, they are the final games on the team’s 2019-20 schedule. At 10 a.m. the locals will take on Tomah Timberwolves Squirts and Sauk Prairie Flyers will be the opposition for the 2:30 p.m. finale.