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2015 WIAA State Hockey Quarterfinal Previews

By Wisconsin Prep Hockey Staff, 03/03/15, 9:45PM CST

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Quarterfinal Game 1 - Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells vs Cedarburg

Cedarburg - Previous tournament appearances 1.  Most recent 2011 Lost to Middleton 2-1
RWD - Previous tournament appearances 1.  Most recent 2011 Lost to Eau Claire Memorial 6-0

Cedarburg - Players to watch - Matt McCoy, goaltender, .972 save percentage in post season; Evan Gabel 3g 1a (scored both goals against USM in sectional final), Drew Decker 0g 4a
RWD - Players to watch - Michael Olson, goaltender, .944 save percentage in postseason; Dylan Brown 4g 4a; Jordan Bill 2g 5a; Jordan Brown 4g 2a

Cedarburg is an outstanding defensive team.  This is reflected is a quote from USM head coach Tim Quinn (in Tom Geilfuss' article on the sectional 8 final), "....My hat, also, goes off to Cedarburg who is one of the best defensive teams I've seen at the high school level.". When you figure in the fact that USM scored 1 goal on Cedarburg in over 70 minutes of hockey in the sectional final, Cedarburg is allowing less than 1 goal per 51 minutes of hockey in the postseason.

The last time Cedarburg felt the agony of defeat was December 12th.  Homestead was able to score 4 goals and won the game 4-1.  That matches the most goals Cedarburg has allowed in a game this season.  De Pere and Somerset each scored 4 goals against Cedarburg, but the Bulldogs went on to win both of those games.  Counting the postseason, Cedarburg has gone 22-0-1 since their last loss.

RWD has some outstanding defensive players in seniors Austin Schyvinck and Zach Clisch.  When you add, Garron Kirby and Darius Scholz, the team has four defensive players that enjoy putting on body on players trying to advance the puck.  Andrew Schulenburg and Logan Marsich have come on throughout the season to help shoulder some of the offensive load.  However, it is the combination of Jordan Bill, Jordan Brown and Dylan Brown that has produced the majority of RWD's firepower this season.

On December 20th, RWD lost to Chippewa Falls 3-2.  The Cardinals scored the winning goal with 3:37 remaining in the game.  Since that loss, RWD has posted a 19-0-1 record.


Quarterfinal Game 2 - Superior vs Janesville

Superior - Previous tournament appearances 36 with 12 championships.  Last appearance 2014 Lost to Verona 3-0
Janesville - Previous tournament appearances 5.  Last appearance 2008 Lost to Eau Claire Memorial 3-1

Superior - Players to watch - Goaltender Peyton Flanders,,Forward Tyler Nystrom

Janesville - Players to watch - Forwards Connor Perkins, Sam Iverson, Ty Perkins.

Janesville got off to a good start to the season. But after Christmas they fell into a funk trying some new line combos and since a 5-1 loss to Verona have turned in a 7-0-1 record with the only tie against State qualifier Madison Memorial. They have 9 Seniors, including Goalie Jessie Heisz , who has seen almost all the playing time this season. The defense doesn't get a lot of recognition but very steady.Coming into the playoffs they were the number 3 seed. After a win over Beloit in the Regional final, they beat the other two teams above them, including a 7-2 win over KMMO in the final.

The Superior Spartans  come in as the Section 1 Champion after beating Hudson 2-1 to punch their ticket to Madison. The Spartans come in with a 3 game winning streak after a 3 game slide to end the regular season. The Spartans were led in scoring during the playoffs by Tyler Nystrom and Caden Tchop with 5 points each. Troy Schold led the team with 3 goals during that stretch. While Superior plays in the Lake Superior Conference in Minnesota, against Wisconsin teams they are 8-5-1. Superior also plays a tough Wisconsin schedule along with the Minnesota teams in their conference.


Quarterfinal Game 3 - Eau Claire Memorial vs Madison Memorial

EAU CLAIRE MEMORIAL (19-5-3)
Previous tournament appearances: 14
State Titles: 2
Last Appearance: 2014 (Lost to Notre Dame, 7-0)
How They Got Here: Beat Marshfield 8-2, Ashland/Washburn 8-1, Hayward 5-1

The Old Abes are on a five-game win streak, their longest of the season. Their scoring is down 25% from last year with the loss of Jake Bresser. This season's team is balanced, as twelve players have at least ten points.

They are led by junior forward Dylan Ross (19g-20a) and senior forward Kadin Machusak (18g-18a). Also offering scoring punch at forward is sophomore Sam Hanson (9g-13a), freshman Ben Zacho (7g-11a), sophomore Dawson Schwengler (5g-11a), and senior Austin Phippen (7g-7a).

On defense is a mixture of experience and youth, led by senior Bret Schwengler (13g-10a), who is one of the top defenders in the state. Senior Austin Bunce (0g-16a) is joined by freshman Ty Emberson (4g-17a) and brother, junior Andrew Emberson (6g-5a).

Junior Connor Urdahl (.911 sv%, 1.93 GAA) and freshman Trevor Hucedek (.923 sv%, 1.78 GAA) split duties in net.

MADISON MEMORIAL (21-5-1)
Previous tournament appearances: 
29
State Titles: 8
Last Appearance: 2004 (Lost to Northland Pines, 2-1)
How They Got Here: Beat Waunakee 6-4, Madison Edgewood 4-1, Middleton 3-0 

The Spartans are playing just like they want to at the end of the season, fashioning a ten-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1). 

JMM (James Madison Memorial) has three players with over 50 points--senior forwards Ty Pelton-Byce (39g-43a) and Riley Karns (21g-34a). Joining them is junior Jacob Padley (17g-40a). Senior Shane Supple (8g-16a), junior Blake Komplin (11g-6a), and senior Sam McCarthy (4g-9a) round out the top two scoring lines.

Junior Jack Andringa (12g-28a) leads the defensive charge and is joined by seniors Cory Dennis (9g-15a) and Nick Roby (2g-10a). Sophomore Colin Supple (2g-7a) also sees significant ice time.

Sophomore Ryan Kenny (.893 sv%, 1.98 GAA) has seen the majority of the time in the crease, including a 21 save shutout against Middleton in the sectional final.

TRASHER'S TAKE: Both teams are very talented and have strengths and weaknesses. The Old Abes have the slight edge in net, while the Spartans put the puck in the net more than ECM.

Something's gotta give...I will pick ECM to beat JMM in the Battle of the Memorials by a final of 4-3.


Quarterfinal Game 4 - Wausau West vs Appleton United

Wausau West - Previous tournament appearances 14 with 1 championship.  Last appearance 2014 Lost to USM 2-1 in double OT
Appleton - Previous tournament appearances 1.  Last appearance 2008 Lost to Madison Edgewood 3-2

Each of these teams has spent time atop the Wisconsin Prep Hockey Top Ten poll. Wausau West claimed the top spot after winning the opening weekend tournament in Eau Claire. Then they lost the next weekend to University School of Milwaukee, who had lost to DC Everest the night before.

Appleton United won their first nine games and took over the top spot from Madison West, then promptly tied Antigo and lost to Bay Port at the Antigo Holiday Tournament.

Each team is more noted for their defense than their offense. Wausau West out-scored their opponents 99-46 during the regular season. Appleton United out-scored their foes 102-50. So the goal differential is pretty close to even.

The difference comes in low scoring games, real low scoring. United won two games during the season by the ultra-low score of 1-0. If the Warriors only score one goal, they lose. Wausau was not shut out at all this season, but four times they only scored one goal, and they lost each of those games. Appleton also scored in each game this season.

When Wausau West scores but two goals, the Warriors are 2-0-2, with wins over SPASH and Mosinee and ties to Madison Edgewood and Notre Dame Academy.

In 24 regular season games, Appleton held their opponents two two goals or less 15 times. In their playoff run, they held DePere to one goal, Notre Dame to two goals, and Bay Port to one.

So the key to the game for Appleton is to keep Wausau to one goal or less. Do that and United wins. If West can get two goals, the Warriors will win, or we'll see overtime. And in overtime, anything can happen. If West can score three or more, good night Appleton.


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