In the late 1990s, the board of directors for the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) gathered together in an attempt to find a way to keep the top players in the state from leaving to play juniors or AAA hockey.

They came up with the concept of Team Wisconsin, a team that would play before and after the regular high school season, allowing our best players to participate in 50+ games while staying home during the winter and playing for their high school teams.

In just its third season, Team Wisconsin captured a national title in Colorado Springs in spring 2002 with a cast of star players including future-NHLer Joe Piskula (Antigo).

The TW midget major U18 team has been a rousing success, competing in the prestigious Upper Midwest High School Elite League, trading checks and goals with some of the best players that the Midwest can offer. A midget minor U16 team has been competing since 2002 in the Elite II league, giving the younger players an opportunity to play against other talented players.

Not satisfied with giving 40 players a chance to play in extra games, WAHA formed the Wisconsin Elite Hockey League (WEHL) in 2006. The league now has five girls teams, six U14 teams, eleven teams at the U16 level, and five U18 teams.

The WEHL gives over 500 players the chance to get extra reps via practices and 30 additional games. Has this improved the level of hockey in the state?

Absolutely.

More players than ever before are going on to compete at the collegiate level, with at least 35 players listed on Division I rosters. The University of Wisconsin squad has 12 state products mentioned on the 26-man pre-season roster, including 2008 Mr. Hockey Jefferson Dahl.

Another 100+ players compete on Division 3 schools across the country.

Bottom line, the "before-and-after" system has proven itself as a winner and has made Wisconsin high school hockey that much better.