When the prep boys hockey season began, Sam Dunn was good. By the time it ended, he had climbed the ladder up to great.
Dunn, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior, helped the Sun Prairie boys hockey team win four consecutive WIAA tournament games — two of them by single-goal margins — as the Cardinals reached the states semifinals before falling to the Waukesha North co-op, 5-4 in overtime.
Dunn’s late-season performance and season-long leadership helped him emerge to win the Wisconsin State Journal/WisconsinPrepZone.com All-Area Player of the Year honor.
Wisconsin State Journal
FORWARDS
Tyler Jensen, sr., Beloit
Carter Hottmann, jr., Madison Edgewood
Tyler Perkins, sr., Janesville
DEFENSEMEN
Lucas Hefty, sr., Oregon
Zach Heidel, sr., Middleton
GOALIE
Sam Dunn, sr., Sun Prairie
FORWARDS
Dylan Brown, jr., RWD
Connor Mikula, sr., Sun Prairie
Riley Jensen, jr., Beloit
DEFENSEMEN
Nolan Frederick, sr., Janesville
Bryce Kessel, sr., Madison Edgewood
CJ Harkins, jr., Sun Prairie
GOALIE
Ryan Kenny, sr., Madison Memorial
Forwards: Jack Anderson, sr., Verona; Justin Engelkes, jr., Middleton; Keaton Gill, sr., Monona Grove; Parker Lindauer, so., Madison Memorial; Zane Marshman, sr., Waunakee; Mason McCormick, so., Verona; Jake Schmaltz, so., Madison Edgewood.
Defensemen: Jeff Bishop, sr., Verona; Robby Hatch, jr., DeForest; Nate Polglaze, sr., Beloit Memorial co-op; Jeremy Werner, jr., Waunakee; Brady Wright, sr., Beloit Memorial co-op.
Goaltenders: Sean Goss, jr., Madison La Follette/East; Andryi Nahirniak, sr., Monona Grove; Dylan Stein, sr., Reedsburg.