Waunakee's first venture into Sun Prairie's signature 'Groundhog Tourney' might seem a bit odd coming with three weeks left in the regular season. But for the Warriors, it's just more hockey.

Tues (1/25) matched the visiting Warriors against Badger North foe and fellow Ice Pond tenant Deforest Norskis. Putting up 11 goals against the Norskis in their first game set the tone for the rematch.

And while the jersey colors had reversed, Waunakee continued their offensive onslaught of the Norskis winning 11-4. Jason Ford and Jay Croop each notched a hat trick, while Derek Straus added two goals and a handful of assists (yes, 5!). But the sweet taste of victory came with a steep price.

Senior penalty kill specialist Sean Hepp sustained a significant wrist injury and junior scoring stud Jason Ford (he leads the state in points) was whistled for a flagrant penalty, causing him to sit out the following game. The Warriors headed to Sun Prairie to take on the struggling Cardinals in the semi-finals of the Tourney on Friday night, albeit without Hepp or Ford suiting up.

One fan described the Sun Prairie Ice Arena as "cozy" which if you were on the ice is very different than the wide open big sheet at the Ice Pond. The Warriors had to take this into consideration against the Cardinals who were hungry to knock off their Highway 19 rivals.

After one period, the lone goal came on a spectacular individual effort by freshman defenseman Keegan Ford to put Waunakee up 1-0 after one stanza.

That's when the cellophane was taken off both nets. The Cardinals' Tyler Patterson let in 3 unanswered Warrior goals by freshman Alex Horras (his 1st varsity goal!), and seniors Eric Behrend and Derek Straus giving Waunakee a comfortable 4-0 lead. But Sun Prairie came roaring back capping off their scoring binge with just :08 left in the second period to knot the score up at four apiece.

At the 3:47 mark of the third period, it was the senior Behrend who slammed home a loose puck to put Waunakee up 5-4.

Neither team seemed able to capitalize on several scoring chances as each goaltender stiffened up as the tension mounted. Senior forwards Luke Meske and Chase Hellenbrand picked up a loose puck at the blue line and had a two on one opportunity. Meske, at the right face off dot, faked a pass to his linemate and ripped a wood stick wrister past Patterson to give Waunakee a two goal lead with just under ten minutes to play. Then it was time to hang on as Sun Prairie started to press.

With an empty net and under a minute to play the Cardinals found the back of the net to make it 6-5 Waunakee. The last :28 was a mad scramble in Waunakee's end, and junior goaltender Mitch Horras turned away a harmless bouncing puck to end the game; Warriors 6, Cardinals 5.

The Warriors battle Monona Grove for the Groundhog Tourney title at Sun Prairie Ice Arena on Saturday night before heading back to the Ice Pond on Tuesday to host Stevens Point.