This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Brackets for the 2022 WIAA state boys hockey playoffs were released on Sunday.
Play begins with regional semifinals in Division 1 on Tuesday, Feb. 15, and regional finals in both Divisions 1 and 2 on Thursday, Feb. 17, or Friday, Feb. 18.
Marshfield (11-10-1) earned a No. 5 seed in the Division 2 Sectional 1 bracket and will play a regional final at No. 4 Hawyard (9-12-1) on Feb. 17 at 5 p.m.
The Tigers, who are just 3-6 in their last nine games, will finish their regular-season schedule with games at Stevens Point on Thursday and at home against Baldwin-Woodville on Friday as they look to recapture more consistent play heading into the playoffs.
“We were looking at a 4 or a 5 seed, so we were not shocked to receive the 5,” Marshfield coach Eric Bowman said. “We were in an unusual position, as our section changed after we had a complete schedule, so we had only played one game against a team from our section (a win against Medford). This made it challenging to seed us, as we had a few common opponents but it was across the board in reference to results in those games. I feel if we would have won 2-3 of our close games this season, we could have worked into a 3 seed, but we will live with where we are at 5.
“Hayward is quite the trip, and it is tough to plan for that, especially with the early game time of 5 p.m, but it is what it is. We have been successful on the road this year, so we are not overly concerned about the travel. Hayward presents some challenges that we have struggled with throughout the year, namely facing a very solid goaltender. There will be a lot of emphasis on finishing our opportunities throughout this week of practice and next.”
Bowman added that the Tigers have faltered late in a number of tight games throughout the season and will have to change that in order to advance this postseason.
“If we are going to make a run in the postseason, we need to finish our close games,” Bowman said. “We have been so close to big wins throughout the year, but have let down in the last few minutes of the game, or the third period. We feel like we are taking steps in the right direction, but absolutely need to continue our focus on small details to close games – clearing the zone, making smart plays, not giving teams late power plays, etc. We like our team a lot, and have been trending in the right direction. We have recently made a few changes to our systems to better suit some of our players and their tendencies, which we hope will allow us to finish close playoff games out, and make a run.”
In Division 1, a strong field dots the Sectional 1 bracket that includes the other five Wisconsin Valley Conference squads.
No. 4 Wausau West (13-7-2) will host No. 13 Wausau East/Merrill (1-20), No. 5 Stevens Point (17-3) will play a home game against No. 12 Northwest Icemen (Barron Co-op) (5-13-1), and No. 8 Wisconsin Rapids (16-5) hosts No. 9 D.C. Everest (8-14) in regional semifinals Feb. 15.
Wausau West plays at Stevens Point on Tuesday in a battle of WVC leaders, with West holding a one-half game lead in the conference standings. West won the first meeting between the teams 4-3 back on Jan. 6. If both win in their playoff openers, when would meet again in a sectional semifinal Feb. 22.
Big Rivers Conference teams Hudson (18-3), Eau Claire Memorial (16-2-1) and Eau Claire North (18-4) are the top three seeds in a loaded bracket and earned byes into the regional finals.
Sectional semifinals will be played Tuesday, Feb. 22, with sectional finals on either Friday, Feb. 25, or Saturday, Feb. 26. The WIAA State Boys Hockey Tournament will be held March 3-5 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
2022 WIAA State Boys Hockey Playoffs
Division 1
Sectional 1
Regional Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 15
No. 9 D.C. Everest at No. 8 Wisconsin Rapids
No. 12 Northwest Icemen (Barron Co-op) at No. 5 Stevens Point
No. 13 Wausau East/Merrill at No. 4 Wausau West
No. 11 Ashland Co-op at No. 6 Chippewa Falls
No. 10 Tomah/Sparta at No. 7 Superior
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
Wisconsin Rapids-D.C. Everest winner at No. 1 Hudson
Stevens Point-Barron winner vs. Wausau West-Wausau East/Merrill winner
Chippewa Falls-Ashland winner at No. 3 Eau Claire North
Superior-Tomah/Sparta winner at No. 2 Eau Claire Memorial
Sectional 2
Regional Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 15
No. 9 Sheboygan South Co-op at No. 8 Beaver Dam Co-op
No. 12 Appleton Xavier Co-op at No. 5 Fond du Lac Co-op
No. 13 Shawano/Bonduel/Clintonville at No. 4 Bay Port
No. 11 Oshkosh North Co-op at No. 6 De Pere/West De Pere
No. 10 Appleton North/East/West at No. 7 West Bend West Co-op
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
Beaver Dam-Sheboygan South winner at No. 1 Green Bay Notre Dame
Fond du Lac-Xavier winner vs. Bay Port-Shawano/Bonduel/Clintonville winner
De Pere/West De Pere-Oshkosh North winner at No. 3 Ashwaubenon Co-op
West Bend West-Appleton winner at No. 2 Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha/Shiocton
Sectional 3
Regional Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 15
No. 9 Onalaska Co-op at No. 8 Sun Prairie
No. 12 De Forest Co-op at No. 5 Sauk Prairie Co-op
No. 13 Baraboo/Portage at No. 4 Reedsburg Co-op
No. 14 Madison La Follette/East at No. 3 Verona
No. 11 La Crosse Aquinas Co-op at No. 6 Middleton
No. 10 Madison West at No. 7 Madison Memorial
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
Onalaska-Sun Prairie winner at No. 1 Madison Edgewood
Sauk Prairie-DeForest winner vs. Reedsburg-Baraboo/Portage winner
Verona-Madison La Follette/East winner vs. Middleton-Aquinas winner
Friday, Feb. 18
Memorial-West winner at No. 2 Waunakee
Sectional 4
Regional Semifinals
Tuesday, Feb. 15
No. 9 Whitefish Bay Co-op at No. 8 Kettle Moraine/Mukwonago/Oconomowoc
No. 12 Beloit Memorial Co-op at No. 5 Muskego Co-op
No. 13 Monroe Co-op at No. 4 Brookfield East Co-op
No. 11 Milton Co-op at No. 6 Milwaukee Marquette
No. 10 Kenosha Bradford Co-op at No. 7 Janesville Craig/Parker
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
Whitefish Bay-Kettle Moraine winner at No. 1 Waukesha North
Muskego-Beloit Memorial winner vs. Brookfield East-Monroe winner
Janesville Craig/Parker-Kenosha Bradford winner at No. 2 University School of Milwaukee
Friday, Feb. 18
Marquette-Milton winner at No. 3 Hartland Arrowhead
Division 2
Sectional 1
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
No. 8 Chequamegon Co-op at No. 1 Rice Lake
No. 5 Marshfield at No. 4 Hayward
No. 6 Medford/Rib Lake at No. 3 Amery/Clayton/Clear Lake/Unity
No. 7 Frederic Co-op at No. 2 New Richmond
Sectional 2
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
No. 5 Waupaca at No. 4 Antigo/Wittenberg-Birnamwood
No. 6 Stevens Point Pacelli at No. 3 Mosinee
No. 7 Tomahawk at No. 2 Rhinelander/Three Lakes
Friday, Feb. 18
No. 8 Northland Pines at No. 1 Lakeland
Sectional 3
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
No. 8 Viroqua/Cashton/Westby/Youth Initiative at No. 1 Baldwin-Woodville/St. Croix Central
No. 5 Black River Falls Co-op at No. 4 West Salem/Bangor
No. 6 Altoona Co-op at No. 3 River Falls
No. 7 Menomonie at No. 2 Somerset Co-op
Sectional 4
Regional Finals
Thursday, Feb. 17
No. 8 Stoughton at No. 1 Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs
No. 5 Cedarburg at No. 4 Mequon Homestead
No. 7 Waupun at No. 2 Oregon
Friday, Feb. 18
No. 6 Monona Grove at No. 3 McFarland