Ice hockey is a popular sport in the state of Wisconsin. 90 high schools field sanctioned varsity teams competing in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA). 8 "club" non-sanctioned Wisconsin High School Hockey teams compete in the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association.
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WIAA
The sanctioned teams compete from the beginning of November until the end of February with maximum number of practices and games. The sanctioned varsity teams are divided into sections used by every sport under WIAA. However, unlike the state tournaments of other prep sports, hockey is not divided into divisions according to the size of the participating schools. All schools, whether the size of a district one or district seven school, compete against one another in state playoffs. Because of this, there are many Wisconsin players and fans from lesser-sized communities who hope that divisions will be instituted for state tournament play.
WAHA
The "club" teams
Spooner High School B State Champions 1990
Spooner High School C State Champions 1984
State Tournament
The WIAA began sponsoring a tournament program in boys hockey in 1971. Superior won the first championship, defeating Madison West, 7-3, in the championship game.
The first State Tournament was held at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison. The tournament has been conducted in Madison every year except in 1974 and 1975 when it was held in Green Bay. The Hartmeyer facility in Madison has been the site of some of the State Tournaments, but the Coliseum has been used exclusively since 1980.
Superior leads in most State championships won with 13. Madison Memorial has won eight, and Madison East has won four titles.
Eighteen different schools have won State championships. Superior is the only program to win three consecutive State titles (1994–96). Superior and Madison Memorial are the only programs to win back-to-back titles. Superior has done it twice including its string of three championships (1981–82) and Madison Memorial has accomplished this feat twice (1976–77, 1979–80).
Superior leads in State Tournament appearances with 37. Madison Memorial is next with 30. Northland Pines is third on the list of appearances with 19, and Stevens Point has been to State 17 times. Eau Claire Memorial and Wausau West have made 15 appearances, Madison East has made 14 and Madison West has made 12.
Prior to official WIAA involvement in hockey, the Madison schools conducted an invitational from 1964 to 1970 (except for 1966). Eagle River (now Northland Pines) won the first championship, Madison East won the next three, and Superior won the last two." - quoting the WIAA website.
Alumni
Every season, a "Mr. Hockey" award is given to the most outstanding player in the state as voted upon by the WHCA.