THE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The 40th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Hockey State Championships and the ninth Girls Hockey State Championships will take place Thursday-Saturday, March 4-6, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. Ticket prices for the tourney are $8 per session and are available at the door.
CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE AND PAIRINGS: The single elimination boys tournament features eight teams. The girls tournament features four teams. There were 93 boys teams and 32 girls teams at the beginning of the championship tournament series this year.
BOYS SCHEDULE (* approximate times):
Thursday, March 4
Time Pairings
11 a.m. Game-1: Superior (16-7-1) vs. Eau Claire Memorial (21-5-1)
1:15 p.m.* Game-2: Wausau West (25-1-1) vs. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (13-11-1)
5 p.m. Game-3: Stoughton (24-1-2)âvs. University School (15-7-3)
7:15 p.m.* Game-4: Notre Dame (26-1) vs. Edgewood (18-7-2)
Friday, March 5
Time Pairings
5 p.m. Game-5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
7:15 p.m.* Game-6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4
Saturday, March 6
Time Pairing
2:30 p.m.* Game-7: Championship Game
GIRLS SCHEDULE (* approximate times):
Friday, March 5
Time Pairings
11 a.m. Game-1: Mosinee Co-op (24-2) vs. Green Bay Co-op (23-4)
1:15 p.m.* Game-2: River Falls Co-op (22-4-1) vs. University School Co-op (19-6-2)
Saturday, March 6
Time Pairing
12:10 p.m. Game-3: Championship Game (Winners of Games 1 & 2)
LAST YEAR: Arrowhead won its first boys hockey title with a 5-1 win over Fond du Lac in the championship game. In the girls final, the River Falls/Baldwin-Woodville/Elmwood/Glenwood City/St. Croix Central/Spring Valley co-op defeated the Fond du Lac/St. Mary’s Springs/Waupun co-op 10-4 in the title tilt to win its first championship.
TEAM TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The first WIAA State boys hockey championship game was held in 1971. Superior won the first championship and has won 11 more since to give the Spartans a membership-leading 12 State titles. Madison Memorial has won eight titles. Hudson won the first two girls titles in 2002 and 2003, which leads all girls programs with two titles.
THE BOYS FIELD: Superior qualifies for the State Tournament for a membership-leading 33rd time, and for the ninth straight year. The Spartans have won 12 State championships, which leads all schools. The Spartans won titles in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003 and 2005, and have finished runner-up an additional 11 times. The Spartans defeated New Richmond 6-3 in the Superior Sectional final to earn another trip to State. Eau Claire Memorial will appear in the tournament for the 10th time and for the third time in the last four years. The Old Abes won the State championship the last time they advanced to the tournament in 2008. They defeated Hayward 6-0 in the Eau Claire Sectional final to enter the final field of eight. Wausau West will also be appearing in the State Tournament for the 10th time. The last time the Warriors qualified was in 2003, which was the last of six straight appearances. Their most significant outcome at the State championships came in 2000 when the Warriors finished runner-up. They defeated Stevens Point 5-1 in the sectional final held in Schofield to earn a berth in the tournament field. The University School returns to State for the ninth time overall and for the seventh time in the past nine seasons. The Wildcats won the State title in 2006. They are the champions of the Beaver Dam Sectional after defeating Cedarburg 7-1 in the final. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln is making its seventh appearance in the State Tournament, all coming since 2001. The Red Raiders made four straight trips to State from 2003-06. They have advanced to the semifinals in each previous trip before being ousted from title contention except for a loss in the quarterfinals in their 2008 appearance. The Red Raiders needed overtime to defeat Onalaska 3-2 in the Onalaska Sectional final. Edgewood is making its fourth appearance. The Crusaders finished runner-up the last time they qualified in 2008. They qualify this year following a 4-3 win over Middleton in the sectional final in Madison. Stoughton will make its second straight appearance after appearing in its first State Hockey Tournament last season, which resulted in a loss in the quarterfinals. The Vikings earn a repeat engagement to the tournament by doubling up on Waukesha North Co-op, 6-3, in the Beloit Sectional final. Notre Dame is making its first-ever appearance in the State Tournament. The Tritons advanced by virtue of their 6-0 blanking of the Appleton East Co-op in the sectional final held in Appleton.
THEâGIRLSâFIELD: The River Falls co-op with Baldwin-Woodville, Elmwood, Glenwood City, St. Croix Central and Spring Valley qualifies to defend the title it won last year in its first State appearance. The Fusion skated past Hudson 3-1 in the River Falls Sectional final to earn the opportunity to play for back-to-back
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