March 4, 2020 at 3:15 p.m.
Hodag bantams to play host to WAHA state tournament this weekend
Hodag bantams to play host to WAHA state tournament this weekend
Eight teams will vie for the state title in the two-day tournament and Rhinelander wants to be more than just hospitable hosts. The Hodags want to be in the mix for the state title.
"It's exciting," Rhinelander Ice Association rink manager Brett Aylesworth said. "We get to host state tournaments pretty often, but to get to host one at the bantam level with one of our most competitive teams is really exciting. Our bantam team is a good, skilled team. They'll compete well in this tournament."
This year's bantam (U14) team is 31-9-3 on the season, wrapping up the regular season with a 8-1 win over Antigo/D.C. Everest last Saturday. In addition to several Rhinelander skaters, the squad includes five skaters from Tomahawk, which did not have enough players to field its own bantam-level squad this year.
"Every one of those kids has been an asset on the team this year," coach Randy Ostrom said. "The dynamic in the locker room has never been better. What a great, cohesive group of kids this year."
Team's perspective
The addition of a number of Tomahawk players to a core of age-eligible ninth graders who elected to stay down at the bantam level instead of moving up to the high school ranks, has given the team a strong nucleus.
"We've got some kids that can score. We've got some great defense. I think our power play looks great and we have a really good looking penalty kill," Ostrom said. "This year, as far as bantam hockey goes for Rhinelander especially, we've really put the package together, I think."
The Hodags, as the host of the tournament, received an automatic berth into the tournament, meaning they did not have to compete in the WAHA Region 2 playdowns in order to qualify. Ostrom said the team is eager to show it's just as good, if not better than the teams that fought their way through playdowns to qualify.
"To be able to put this team on the ice and then host the tournament here with that team, I really like our chances," he said. "I've been telling the kids all year long we've got the team that can do this. Our motto all year's been 'better every day,' and I think we've done that."
The majority of this year's team will move on at the end of the season, bolstering the Rhinelander and Tomahawk boys' hockey teams next winter. Even the Northern Edge girls' hockey co-op is scheduled to get a boost from this year's squad. The lone girl on the team is Tomahawk defender Scout Stromberg, who would be eligible to join the Edge co-op next year.
"All but three kids are going up next year to high school," Ostrom said. "It's a great group of kids. It's going to be awesome to watch them mesh with that group that's already there at the high school level and see what they can put together next year. It should be some pretty high-flying, great hockey at that level next year."
Rink's perspective
Hosting WAHA state tournaments is nothing new for the RIA. This weekend marks the sixth time in the last eight years that Rhinelander has held a class 3 state tournament at either the Peewee or Bantam level and the rink has already been awarded next year's Class 3B state Peewee tournament.
"Not only is it an honor, it's a large revenue source for the Rhinelander Ice Association," Aylesworth said. "WAHA pays us to host the tournament, essentially. We get a good chunk of change. We get concessions. We get raffle revenue. We appreciate weekends like this just as much as one of our regular tournaments."
The regular tournaments make the RIA used to handling an event of this magnitude. Each year the rink hosts five youth-level tournaments plus the Hodagland high school girls' hockey tournament. Dates for those tournaments usually come out up to a year in advance and are quick to fill up.
Aylesworth said the RIA submits bids to WAHA to host state tournaments and then its up to WAHA to decide who gets to host. He said to be able to host a state tournament while having a competitive team at that level is a double bonus.
"No. 1, we're bidding two years out, so we really don't know always how great our teams are and No. 2, sometimes it's a crapshoot. You don't know what level you're going to get," he said.
Aylesworth added there is an economic benefit to hosting state tournaments, for both the ice association and the great Rhinelander community.
"For the rink, it's more than $5,000," he said. "For the community, we're bringing in six teams staying in hotels, at probably two nights. It's definitely tens of thousands of dollars in hotel rooms. It's tens of thousands of dollars at restaurants, bars, gas stations, shopping centers.
"It's great to bring more teams to our rink and let them see what we do and what we offer. Maybe they'll come back with a sibling to one of our regular tournaments."
Schedule
Each team is guaranteed three games during the two-day tournament. Rhinelander will open against Sauk Prairie in the final of the four quarterfinal games at approximately 1:15 p.m. Saturday. Depending on the result, the Hodags will face either Amery or Beaver Dam in a consolation game at 6:30 p.m. or the semifinals at 8:15 p.m.
"I've been doing a little research on Sauk (Prairie)," Ostrom said. "We play them first round. Been doing a little bit of research on Beaver Dam and Amery. They're both always competitive programs and strong programs at whatever level they're playing at. They always come with everything they've got."
Saturday's results will determine when the team plays Sunday. The scheduled begins with the seventh-place game at 8 a.m. and leads up to the championship game at 2 p.m.
Waupaca, Tomah, Black River Falls and Lakeland are on the other side of the bracket. Lakeland is the only team in the field that Rhinelander has faced this year, and Ostrom said if would be a dream scenario if the teams met on Sunday with a state title on the line.
"That would be the pinnacle of the season right there, if we could get Lakeland-Rhinelander in the final and play that game out, that would be a real testament of how the season played out for us this year I think," he said.
There is no admission fee for spectators, who can come out and watch any or all of this weekend's hockey. The RIA will have concessions on site, as well as raffles throughout the weekend.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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