Wiaa D1 Boys State Preview
Breaking Down WIAA Boys Hockey State Tournament. Hockey in Wisconsin is growing fast. Everyday there is so much going on and people are starting to recognize hockey in Wisconsin. With the WIAA Boys Hockey Tournament starting this Thursday at Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton WI.There will be 8 teams 4 in D1 and 4 in D2. Division 1 holds 3 teams where they have made the state tournament back to back. 3 of the 4 teams are returning to the state tournament. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the 4 D1 hockey teams that stand out for different reasons. Whether it’s their legacy, recent success, or rising potential, each team has a story worth exploring.
Edgewood Crusaders
Edgewood has started to be one of the most dominant teams in Wisconsin, they continue to have winning records and they continue to be feared in D1. This season they ended the regular season with an 18-6 season. Last year they ended up 21 and 3 so they did slightly lose more games but they were still ranked #1 in section 3 and 4. For the last 4 seasons including this year they have appeared 3 times in the state tournament. Edgewood was ranked #4 in the state tournament. They face #1 Brookfield this Friday at 10 am at Bob Suters Capitol Ice Arena. Edgewood has 4 standout players #24 Davis Halbleib, #15 Owen Koch, #9 Owen Porter, #16 Matt Richter. They have a combined 199 points all together. They seem to be the sources of the goals they produce. But that does not dismiss the entire production in points and chances this year. It will be fun to see if they can finally make it to the championship.
Brookfield Stars
Brookfield is currently on a roll winning the last 5 games. In the last 2 years they have started to grow their program and start to be a team to be looking at on your schedule. They are currently seeded as #1 right now. They finished off the season 21-3. They match up against the Edgewood Crusaders on Friday at 10am. Brookfield faced off against Edgewood in the regular season, Brookfield came out on top winning 4-2. Brookfield wants to return to the championship again. Last year they faced #1 Chippewa Falls and beat Chippewa Falls 6-5. Brookfield has the same amount of stars as Edgewood. The stars include #10 Connor Hillig, #9 Cooper Simon, #17 Captain Adam Sexton, and #2 Captain Parker Dysart. Connor Hillig is a nominee for player of the year sitting at 80 points but that does not take away from the rest of the team also playing outstanding hockey. They all have a combined 254 points. It looks like Goalie Brady Ferrel will get the start this Friday. Brady has a record of 12-2 with an .898 SV %. It seems like both teams have a strong penalty kill sitting above 75%. But they do have very poor power play % both teams fall below 45%. The numbers are still the same during the playoffs but have fluctuated. It will be interesting to see how both of these teams match up and if the star players can really make a difference.
Notre Dame Tritons
Notre Dame is BACK again. This will be their 6th state tournament appearance in the last 6 seasons. NDA is one of the most dominant programs in the state of Wisconsin. They are currently ranked #3 in the state tournament and have a head to head matchup against #2 Wausau West Warriors. Notre Dame is heading into the state tournament with an 18-7-1 record. They previously faced Wausau West losing 1-2 in the regular season. NDA is looking for a 3 peat after beating Brookfield last year and Beating Verona the year prior. The team is not familiar with losing when it counts the most, which is why they are one of the best teams in the state. They don't have players over 50 points but in NDA’s case they don't need one outstanding player and that has always been proven. Last year they did not have anyone over 50 points and they still won the championship. That just comes down to preparation and the coaching. The team works hard, they may have lost in the regular season but when it really matters that is when they show the state who they really are. No matter who they go up against they will always put up a fight. They schedule so many good games in the regular season even playing teams from Michigan. It will be interesting if they can show up this weekend. They also have their sights on a 3 peat, can they get that done?
Wausau West Warriors
The Warriors have not made a state tournament appearance in 6 years. They have really not had much experience in these types of situations at this big of a stage. I would say they are an underdog compared to Notre Dame even though they are #2. The road the warriors were on has not been easy. Wausau went into OT in the first round, in the second round Wausau beat New Richmond 6-5 and in the sectional final beat Eau Claire Memorial 3-1. It will be interesting to see how Wausau will match up against Notre Dame. It will come down to experience and how each player handles the downs throughout the game. #19 Junior Cooper Depuydt is coming into the state tournament with 58 points and seems to be the major weapon on the Warriors roster. The top of the roster is filled with good players who have 30+ points. In order for Wausau to win over a good Notre Dame team is to outwork them and not let the emotions get to them. If you start to fear or worry about previous games or who they have on the team you have already lost. Wausau has beaten Notre Dame in the regular season winning 2-1. That means the team knows how to win and how they can counter Notre Dame’s offense and defense. I can’t wait to see how Wausau plays in this type of environment.
Final Thoughts
The WIAA Boys Hockey State Tournament is set to be a battle, where four elite teams will fight for the trophy that we dream of as kids. Each team enters with its own story, its own momentum, and its own reason to believe this could be their year. Brookfield, the top seed, is determined to prove why they’ve been dominant all season. Edgewood, a program that continues to rise, has a golden opportunity to finally break through and cement itself as a true powerhouse. Notre Dame, one of the most consistent and dangerous teams in Wisconsin, is chasing history, looking to become only the second team ever to three-peat. And then there’s Wausau West—the underdog with nothing to lose and everything to prove, hungry to make the most of their first state appearance in six years.
With star players ready to take the spotlight, goalies prepared to stand tall under pressure, and fan bases bringing the energy, every moment will be crucial. One mistake could end a season, one heroic play could define a legacy. Will experience prevail, or will a new contender rise? Will Notre Dame continue its dynasty, or will a new champion be crowned?
No matter what happens, one thing is certain Wisconsin hockey has never been stronger, and this weekend is going to prove it. The energy inside Capitol Ice Arena will be electric, the battles on the ice will be fierce, and by the time the final buzzer sounds, one team will be hoisting the championship trophy, forever etching their names into history.
