Sunday, the WIAA released its State Hockey Tournament brackets, which you can see by clicking here.
With the WIAA State Hockey Tournament brackets now available, it's time to take a look at area teams participating in the event. Verona earned a #1 seed in boys hockey, while the Metro Lynx earned a #1 seed in girls hockey.
Division 1, Sectional 3: Verona earned the #1 seed, ahead of Edgewood, Sun Prairie and Sauk Prairie.
Big 8 champion #1 Verona (19-4, 13-0) was a no-doubter as the top seed in Sectional 3, as the Wildcats spent a good chunk of the season as the #1-ranked team in the state. Verona dispatched the other teams in Sectional 3 with ease, and also swept the Big 8. Their closest game in the sectional was a season-opening 4-3 win over second-seeded Edgewood, and of their four losses on the season, the Wildcats defeated two of those teams elsewhere in the schedule. All four teams they lost to were either #1 or #2 seeds in Division 1.
Speaking of #2 Edgewood (18-4, 12-0), the Crusaders cruised to a Badger South title, which they wrapped up back in January. Like Verona, the Crusaders dropped four contests this year to teams seeded very well in Division 1.
Big 8 runner-up #3 Sun Prairie (17-6, 10-3) lost to both Verona and Edgewood this year, including two losses to Verona, but much like Verona and Edgewood, the Cardinals had five of their six losses come against teams receiving a bye to start the Division 1 portion of the tournament. The lone loss outside of that ledger was to rival Middleton in Big 8 play.
All three of the top seeds receive a bye and won't play until February 20 or 21.
February 18 Regional Semifinal Games: Sectional 3: #13 La Follette/East at #4 Sauk Prairie, #12 DeForest at #5 Madison West, #11 Tomah/Sparta at #6 Middleton, #10 Monroe at #7 Reedsburg, #9 Madison Memorial at #8 Baraboo/Portage
February 18 Regional Semifinal Games: Sectional 4: #12 Beloit Memorial at #5 Homestead, #9 Janesville Craig/Parker at #8 Brookfield
Division 2, Sectional 4: Waunakee, McFarland, and Oregon received seeds #3 through #5.
Badger North champion #3 Waunakee (16-7, 8-1) earned a slot behind top-seeded St. Mary's Springs and second-seeded Waupun. The Warriors haven't faced either of the top seeds; in fact, the only team in the sectional that Waunakee has played is #8 Monona Grove (13-1 win for Waunakee in January). #4 McFarland finished behind Edgewood in the Badger South, while #5 Oregon was third. McFarland and Oregon split the regular-season series, and will face each other to open up the postseason.
February 20 Regional Final Games: Sectional 3: #8 Monona Grove at #1 St. Mary's Springs, #7 Stoughton at #2 Waupun, #6 Cedarburg at #3 Waunakee, #5 Oregon at #4 McFarland
Girls Hockey, Sectional 3: Metro (Middleton Co-op) got the #1 over Cap City (Sun Prairie Co-op), while Rock County (Beloit Memorial Co-op) earned the top seed in Sectional 4.
First, Sectional 3. #1 Metro Lynx (18-3, 8-2) is a game back in the Badger Conference, but owns wins over two of the other three #1 seeds in the state, and of its three losses, two came to other #1 seeds in the state, and one came to rival Cap City in conference play. #2 Cap City Cougars (18-3, 9-1) have a showdown for the conference title on Thursday with the Rock County Fury. The Cougars turned in a strong resume as well, including wins over two other #1 seeds, but suffered losses to teams seeded lower than the top spot this season. Also in Cap City's way to a potential third game with the Lynx is Onalaska, who they lost to 1-0 just two games ago.
In Sectional 4, #1 Rock County Fury (14-8, 8-2) had easily the best resume of the teams in their grouping, but the sectional also is fairly even beyond the top spot, meaning both games the Fury would potentially play to get to state would be against solid opponents.
For the top-seeded Metro Lynx and Rock County Fury, their postseason begins on February 25.
February 21 Regional Final Game: #2 Warbirds (Baraboo Co-op) at #2 Cap City Cougars