By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Peewee A Cheavers, closing in on their trip to the WAHA Peewee 3A State Championship tournament in Somerset March 12-13 got another tournament test this past weekend.

Looking to add to hardware collected as champions at the Ultimate Tournaments Dairyland Classic in all the local rinks the previous weekend, the Cheavers won two of three at a tournament in Green Bay last weekend (Feb. 26-27).

After opening the event with a 6-2 win against the Ozaukee Ice Dogs Saturday morning at Cornerstone Community Center, the Cheavers hit the ice again Saturday afternoon, falling by the same 6-2 margin against eventual tournament champion Escanaba (Michigan) Hawks.

The loss Saturday afternoon snapped a six-game unbeaten string for the Cheavers, and they went right back to work starting a new streak Sunday with a 4-0 win against the Iron Kings, another Michigan-based squad.

Cheavers 6 Ice Dogs 2

In the first game, the Cheavers carried a 2-0 lead out of the person and had the game in hand with a 6-1 cushion heading to the third.

Landen Uminski paced the offense with a three-goal game, Ethan Wilcox scoring twice and setting up another and Tyler Krieski scoring the other, along with two assists.

Evelyn Gurney and Andrew Stando picked up assists as well and Jesse Arnold picked up the win in goal with nine saves.

Blake Atchison kicked out 23 shots for the Ice Dogs.

Cheavers 2 Hawks 6

The Cheavers gained some consolation in the knowledge they played the Hawks closer than any other team as the Hawks collected their second win of the week and claimed the title with a 12-4 margin against the host Green Bay squad.

Hawks were up 4-0 after a period and 5-1 after the middle frame, both teams adding one more in the third.

Hailey Dietl fired the first RWD goal, unassisted and the other game from Uminski with a feed from Wilcox.

Arnold kicked out 19 shots in the contest while Bryce Bichlor stopped six to pick up the win for the Hawks.

Cheavers 4 Iron Kings 0

The Cheavers shrugged off the loss to the Hawks and went back to work Sunday, collecting the 4-0 shutout against the Iron Kings.

The game winner came in the first period and the other three goals all game in the middle period.

Krieski and Uminski scored two goals each, Krieski adding an assist. Other assists were credited to Dayne Wagner, Noah Backeberg and Ethan Pope.

Arnold picked up his third shutout of the season and second in the past two weeks with eight saves, Aubree Moore stopping 16 for the Kings.

The 2-1 win boosted the Cheavers’ overall record to 27-17-2 and the team is an impressive 6-3-1 in its past 10 games.

The Cheavers were ranked fourth at the tournament based on some points system used for the event.

The final chance to catch the Cheavers on home ice will be this weekend as they get some tough tests on home ice at Reedsburg Area Community Arena Saturday, playing the Sun Prairie ‘A’ peewees Saturday (March 5) at 10:45 a.m. then return for a 4:45 ‘B’ test against the Waunakee ‘B’ Wildcats at 4:45 p.m.

On Sunday, the Cheavers will play the Tomah ‘A’ peewees at 9:15 a.m.

Wilcox fires two for Cheavers to claim Dairyland Classic

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Peewee ‘A’ Cheavers wrapped up what it hopes is the first of two banners, claiming the championship in its Ultimate Tournaments Dairyland Classic Division over the President’s Day weekend.

The Cheavers kicked off the tournament Friday (Feb. 18) afternoon with a 4-0 win against the Waconia (MN) Wildcats at Lake Delton Ice Arena returned with an early morning 1-1 draw against a familiar opponent, the Waunakee Wildcats at Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA).

On Sunday morning, the Cheavers wrapped up division play and earned a spot in the championship game with a 3-1 against the Chicago Hawks also at RACA

Later Sunday, the Cheavers returned to Lake Delton to face the Waunakee crew again, claiming the banner with a 3-2 win.

RWD Cheavers 4 Waconia Wildcats 0

Two goals in the first and another pair in the second sent the Cheavers to a win in its opening contest.

Three goals came from Landen Uminski and Teaghen Geffert notched the other. Ethan Wilcox and Dayne Wagner each collected an assist and Jesse Arnold recorded his second shutout of the season in goal for the Cheavers.

RWD Cheavers 1 Waunakee Wildcats 1

A tight defensive battle against a Wildcats team the Cheavers have run into a few times this season saw teams battling to a draw.

Braxton McGuigan put the Wildcats up with the lone goal of the first period, but Uminski equalized the score in the second from Wilcox and Tyler Krieski early in the second.

From there it was the goaltenders taking charge, Arnold wrapping up with 10 saves while the Cheavers tested the Wildcats’ keeper with 25 shots.

RWD Cheavers 3 Chicago Hawks 1

The Cheavers clinched a spot in the championship game with a win Sunday morning in Reedsburg.

Wilcox fired the first goal of the game, late in the first period from Wagner and Krieski and Wagner converted a feed from Uminski early in the second with what turned into the game winner.

The Hawks pulled one back late in the middle period, but Krieski restored the two-goal margin in the final period with help from Wilcox.

Arnold stopped eight shots to pick up the win while the Cheavers peppered the Hawks’ goaltender with 27 shots.

RWD Cheavers 3 Waunakee Wildcats 2

The final brought a rematch with the Wildcats, and they engaged in another close battle Sunday afternoon.

Teams were tied in the standings, but the Wildcats got the nod as the home team based on goal differential through the preliminary contests.

That didn’t matter to the Cheavers who played even through the opening frame, opened a 2-1 edge in the second and widened the gap early in the third.

Uminski’s unassisted goal opened the scoring, and it was Wilcox with another unassisted goal in the second to put the Cheavers up 2-1.

Another Wilcox goal in the final period, from Andrew Stando widened the gap and turned into the game winner when the Wildcats pulled one back later in the period.

Arnold kicked out another dozen while the Cheavers fired 33 at the Waunakee goal.

Three wins and a tie boosted the Cheavers’ overall record to 27-16-2 and they will be looking for another tournament title attending an event in Green Bay this weekend.

That will leave one more weekend of play before the team heads to the WAHA Peewee 3A State Championship in Somerset. More information on that event will be on these pages in the days ahead.

The RWD Cheavers won three and tied one to claim the Ultimate Tournaments Dairyland Classic Peewee Division championship at Lake Delton Ice Arena on Sunday afternoon. Peewee Cheavers team members include: Hailey Dietl; Tyler Krieski; Landen Uminski; Ethan Wilcox; Dayne Wagner; Teaghen Geffert; Noah Backeberg; Evelyn Gurney; Andrew Stando; Jesse Arnold and Ethan Pope.

Scott scores five to lead Squirt Cheavers past Wildcats

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Squirt ‘A’ Cheavers bounced back from a narrow defeat against the Madison Patriots Saturday (Jan. 29) with a pair of wins against the Waunakee Wildcats Sunday.

On Saturday, teams combined for 13 goals but unfortunately for the locals seven of those came off Patriots’ sticks. On Sunday the Cheavers earned a narrow 2-1 lead against the ‘C’ Wildcats then followed it up shortly after with a more comfortable 8-2 decision.

All three games were played at the Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA).

Patriots 7 @ Cheavers 6

The Patriots outlasted the Cheavers in a wide-open contest by a narrow margin.

Regular goaltender Jase Uminski took a turn as a skater and collected three goals along with an assist to pace the Cheavers’ attack. Briar Messer chipped in a pair of goals, Rainier Scott scoring the other goal and collecting an assist.

Elliot Wilcox stopped 23 shots in goal for the Cheavers.

Wildcats 1 @ Cheavers 2

After the wide-open contest Saturday, the Cheavers came out on top in a defensive battle in the first of two Sunday games.

Teams were even at 1-1 after a period, Cole Renneberg scoring for the Cheavers on a feed from Scott.

That tie held up until the final period when Brayden Potter notched the game winner and Renneberg picked up the assist.

Uminski kicked out 12 of 13 in goal for the Cheavers.

Wildcats 2 @ Cheavers 8

The RWD Squirts, led by a five-goal explosion from Scott, collected an easy win in its final game of the weekend. Messer, Renneberg and Potter each added a goal and assist, and Wilcox also helped on one.

Uminski turned in a 16-save effort to pick up his second win of the day in goal for the Cheavers.

The focus turns to Regionals this weekend as the squirt Cheavers, along with all the other RWD contingent will be looking to punch a ticket to the State Championship tournament. More information on that will be in a related story to be released shortly.

Wagner’s nine point day paces Peewee Cheavers

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Peewee ‘A’ Cheavers stayed hot, rebounding from its first loss in seven games the previous weekend with 16 goals in two wins on a Mississippi Valley swing Sunday.

After collecting a 9-4 win against the La Crosse Flames at Green Island Ice Arena, the Cheavers stopped at the Panther Den in West Salem on the way home, collecting a 7-2 win against the West Salem Panthers.

Cheavers 9 @ Flames 4

Six third period goals turned a close game into a cakewalk for the Cheavers who led 1-0 after a period and 3-2 heading to the final period.

Tyler Krieski scored the first two for the Cheavers and ended the game with three goals and an assist. Dayne Wagner and Andrew Stando both scored twice, Wagner assisting on one and Stando setting up a pair. Ethan Wilcox and Teaghen Geffert both collected a goal and assist, and Ethan Pope also had a helper.

Jesse Arnold stopped 17 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Cheavers.

Cheavers 7 @ Panthers 2

Wilcox donned the pads for the second game and kicked out 10 of 12 to pick up the win in goal.

The Cheavers helped him out jumping into a 4-1 first period lead and extending the margin to 5-2 in the middle frame.

Wagner, Landen Uminski and Geffert each fired a pair in the game, Wagner adding three assists to wrap up a nine-point road trip. Krieski scored the other and picked up an assist.

The Peewee ‘A’ Cheavers have gotten hot at the right time, picking up wins in eight of 10 since putting up the 2022 Calendar. Overall, the team sits at 18-11-2. After a couple weeks on the road the team returns home for a busy weekend as it goes through final preparations before Regionals the following weekend.

The team will play a rare game at the Lake Delton Ice Arena playing the Waunakee ‘B’ Wildcats at 9:30 to start a three-game day. The other two games, at 2 and 5 p.m. will be against the La Crosse Flames at Reedsburg Arena Community Arena (RACA).

Sunday the Cheavers will play two more at RACA against at 10:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. against the Madison Patriots.

Squirt ‘A’ Cheavers take second in West Salem

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

The RWD Squirt ‘A’ hockey team rolled to a second place showing at a tournament in West Salem with a win, shootout loss and regulation loss along the way.

After opening with a 7-2 win against the Waupun Warriors Saturday (Jan. 22), the Cheavers engaged in a thriller with the Iowa Heartlanders, who rallied late to tie it then captured a 5-4 win in shootout to break Cheavers hearts Saturday night.

On Sunday, the Cheavers wrapped up play against the host West Salem squad who held off the Cheavers for a 3-2 edge.

Cheavers 7 Warriors 2

The opener saw a bit of a slow start for the Cheavers, even with the Warriors at 1-1 after a period but up 3-1 heading to a five-goal (4-1 Cheavers) third period.

Briar Messer paced the Cheaver attack with a hat trick and an assist while Rainier Scott notched a pair of goals. Brayden Potter chipped in a goal and assist, and the other goal came from Jamison Haag. Jase Uminski handled the work in goal and earned praise from Head Coach Justin Messer in a post-tournament report for his stellar work between the pipes in all three contests.

In the opening game, the Cheavers held a 28-7 edge in shots on goal.

Cheavers 3 Heartlanders 4 (so)

In its second game, the Cheavers carried a 3-1 lead out of the opening period but saw it trimmed to 4-3 in the middle frame. The Heartlanders struck for the only goal of the final period to send the game to overtime and a shootout where the Iowa squad fired the only goal.

Scott notched the first two goals of the game for the Cheavers, both unassisted and the other two came from Cole Renneberg with help from Messer on the first one.

Uminski kicked out 21 of 25 shots in the game as the Heartlanders held a 25-18 edge overall.

West Salem 3 Cheavers 2

On Sunday the Cheavers returned for a final contest and once again took control early with the lone goal of the first period off the stick of Haag, unassisted.

All the remaining goals came in the second period, including the game winner fired in the final minute of the session giving West Salem its first and only lead of the contest.

Cheavers’ second period marker also came from Haag on a feed from Renneberg.

The weekend contests leave the team with an 11-10-1 record so far and this weekend, the final games of prep before the Regionals will see the team on home ice three times at the Reedsburg Area Community Arena (RACA).

On Saturday the Squirt Cheavers will take on the Madison Patriots ‘B’ at 3:30 and they will play twice on Sunday, against Waunakee Wildcats‘C’ at 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

The RWD Squirt ‘A’ Cheavers celebrated a second place showing at a tournament in West Salem this past weekend. Cheavers players include (in no specific order) Jase Uminski, Caleb Backeberg, Cole Renneberg, Elliot Wilcox, Briar Messer, Brayden Potter, Nora Walker, Rainier Scott and Jamison Haag. Team Coaches include in back from left: Jeremy Backeberg, Head Coach Justin Messer, Nate Wilcox and Joe Uminski.

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.

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.

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.

Bucks and Pucks take over local ice arenas

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

For a second consecutive weekend, Ultimate Tournaments took ice time in all four Sauk County ice rinks for the initial running of the Bucks and Pucks tournament.

In all, 33 teams from across the American Midwest competed in seven different divisions, wrapping up Sunday with 10 Championship games at the Mite, Squirt and Peewee levels. Below is a brief rundown on each division.

MITE LOW AA/HIGH A

A half dozen teams competed in ‘Red’ and ‘White’ Divisions wrapping up with finals for all six teams on Sunday (Nov. 21).

The ‘White’ Division title went to the Junior Ice Dogs out of Vernon Hills, IL who matched a 5-0 win it also collected in round robin play against the Crystal Lake Stingers.

The ‘Red’ Championship game was also a 5-0 final, the Northern Express Mites from Park Ridge, IL grabbing the shutout against the Team Iowa Renegades, widening the gap after a narrow 3-2

The Consolation final was an all-Wisconsin battle, the Wisconsin Capitols collecting a 6-4 win against the Mitey Badgers.

MITE LOW B/HOUSE

This four-team division saw teams playing round-robin matches Friday and Saturday and wrapped up Sunday with a 9-4 win for Northern Express against Team Iowa, wrapping up a perfect 4-0 weekend including a 6-1 win against the same Team Iowa squad earlier on the weekend. The Consolation final went to the Crystal Lake Stingers with a 5-0 shutout win against the Ice Dogs.Tw

SQUIRT A

This division included both a playoff semi-final and final on Sunday. The SHAW (Southern Hockey Association Wisconsin) drew a bye to the championship game with a tie and a win on Saturday and the Ice Dogs avenged an earlier 7-2 loss against Twin Bridges Lightning from the St. Louis area with a 4-3 edge in semis to grab the other spot in the final.

SHAW collected a 7-3 edge in the Championhship game.

SQUIRT B

Another six-team division with two championship games saw the Omaha Jr. Lancers and Glen Ellyn (IL) Admirals capturing the championship banners and hardware.

The Lancers won two out of three leadup games to reach the final and captured the ‘White’ championship with a 5-3 edge against the Crystal Lake Yellowjackets.

The ‘Red’ Division provided a championship thriller as regulation time and a five-minute overtime segment couldn’t decide a winner.

In a shootout, the Admirals finally wrapped it up with a 2-1 margin against the Affton Americans from the St. Louis area.

The Consolation final was won by the Twin Bridges Lightning with a 3-1 edge against the Waunakee Wildcats.

SQUIRT C

This four-team division saw the Huskies Hockey Club from Romeoville, IL avenging an earlier defeat with a 4-2 doubling of Lady Liberty, part of the Affton Americans hockey group, in the championship game.

The Liberty entered as the top seed, having defeated Huskies by a 2-1 margin earlier in the tournament.

The Consolation final saw the Admirals collecting a 6-1 win against the Twin Bridges Lightning.

Peewee B/WI Third team

The Affton Americans rolled through round robin matches but rank into a tougher challenge from Milwaukee Winter Club in the championship game. Winter Club took the banner with a 4-0 shutout, avenging a 5-1 defeat earlier the same day.

The Consolation final went to the Glacier (Vernon Hills, IL) Ice Dogs capturing a 5-0 shutout win against the Admirals.

Peewee B2

This six-team division wrapped up Sunday with a pair of championship games.

The ‘Red’ final saw the Crystal Lake Yellowjackets wrapping up an undefeated (three wins, one tie) weekend with an 8-3 victory against the Huskies.

The ‘White’ Division title went to St. Peters from the St. Louis area saving its only win of the weekend for the right time, a 2-0 edge against Milwaukee Winter Club with a 2-0 shutout. St. Peters collected two ties and a loss in round robin matches while Winter Club took top spot in the division with one win, one loss and one tie.

Huge opening weekend for Argall

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Saukhockey.info

After opening its weekend with a big win in Reedsburg (see story below), the Sauk Prairie Squirt ‘A’ Flyers wrapped up a perfect weekend with wins on home ice against Verona and Waunakee.

Bryce Argall continued his torrid pace, following up the four goals he scored in Reedsburg with another trio in an early morning game at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) against the Verona ‘B’ Wildcats in a 4-2 Flyers’ win and another four later in the day against the Waunakee ‘B’ Wildcats, pacing his team to another 4-2 win and an amazing 11-goal weekend.

Brayton Bahe fired the other goal against Verona and all four goals were unassisted. Mason Ramirez collected his second straight win with his second straight eight-save contest.

Against Waunakee, Milo Donaldson collected an assist for the Flyers.

The Flyers will play a pair of games this weekend, traveling to Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena Saturday at 12:15 p.m. to play the Middleton Cardinals Squirt ‘A’ squad and returning home for a rematch with the RWD ‘A’ Squirts at SPARC with a 6:30 p.m. puck drop.