This story is sponsored by Victory Apparel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Marshfield senior goalie Haydon Roy-Peterson was the lone Tiger named to the 2016-17 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Boys Hockey Team.
Roy-Peterson was an honorable mention choice after compiling a conference-high 353 saves and an 86.7 percent save percentage in nine conference games for the Tigers, who finished 1-8-1 in the WVC and 10-14-1 overall.
“Haydon was a player that allowed our young team to grow up in varsity hockey,” Marshfield coach Eric Bowman said. “When players made mistakes, often Haydon would bail us out with a big save. He kept our team close in games that we had no business being in, and he made saves that most goaltenders wouldn’t have stopped.
“He took big strides this season locker room this season as well, as he held his composure on nights where he was seeing 50-60 shots against some of the top teams in the state of Wisconsin, literally fighting through physical and mental exhaustion in the face of constant pressure from very talented opponents.”
Stevens Point sophomore Cole Caufield and Wausau West senior Nick Techel were both unanimous first-team selections at forward and were named Co-Players of the Year.
Caufield led the conference in goals with 24 and was tied for the lead in assists with 13. Techel had nine goals and six assists for Wausau West, which shared the conference title with Stevens Point.
Stevens Point goalie Phil Trzebiatowski, Wausau West defenseman Kellen Tharaldson, D.C. Everest defenseman J.J. Berdal, and Wausau West forward Josh Bohlin round out the first team.
2016-17 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Boys Hockey Team
First Team
Goalie: Phil Trzebiatowski, sr., Stevens Point.
Defensemen: J.J. Berdal, jr., D.C. Everest; Kellen Tharaldson, sr., Wausau West.
Forwards: *Cole Caufield, so., Stevens Point; *Nick Techel, sr., Wausau West; Josh Bohlin, jr., Wausau West. (*denotes unanimous selection)
Second Team
Goalie: Jacob Warnke, sr., Wausau West.
Defensemen: Max Techel, jr., Wausau West; Isaac Gilbert, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Forwards: Seth Jablinski, sr., D.C. Everest; Austin Burgener, sr., Merrill/Wausau East; Christian Bardarson, sr., Wausau West.
Honorable Mention
Goalies: Michael Janke, jr., D.C. Everest; Haydon Roy-Peterson, sr., Marshfield; Bryce Broeking, sr., Merrill/Wausau East.
Defensemen: Ben Brown, sr., Merrill/Wausau East; Jarett Jones, sr., Stevens Point; Jacob Evans, sr., Wausau West.
Forwards: Ryan Begley, jr., D.C. Everest; Barrett Brooks, fr., Stevens Point; Chase Miller, sr., Stevens Point; Marc Sippel, fr., Wausau West; Colton Flammini, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Co-Players of the Year: Cole Caufield, Stevens Point, and Nick Techel, Wausau West.