Spartans begin quest for state title today

The Superior High School Spartans begin their quest for a 13th WIAA State Boys Hockey Tournament championship when they play the University School of Milwaukee at 7:15 p.m. today at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

The Spartans (17-6) advanced to their 31st state tournament by defeating Baldwin-Woodville 8-1, New Richmond 2-0 and River Falls 6-1.

The Wildcats (14-7-2) defeated Homestead 9-3, Brookfield 4-3 and Germantown 3-1 in their playoff journey.

Alex Tesensky leads UMS with 19 goals and 34 points. Seven of Tesensky’s goals have come on the power play. Billy Crimmins lead the Wildcats with three short-handed goals, and Colin Fritz is the assists leader with 21.

Junior Pat Dalbec leads Superior in goals (18), assists (32) and points (50).

Three other Spartans are also in double figures in goals scored: defenseman Tim Smith (14), John LeDoux (13) and Wade Berkseth (12).

Mike Plummer leads Superior with four power-play goals and Taylor Leuthner has two short-handed goals.

Kyle Johnson is 14-6 between the pipes for the Spartans with six shutouts. He has a goals against average of 1.92 and a saves percentage of .918.

The Wildcats have used three goaltenders this season. Jeff Dye is 12-4-1, Dean Frohman is 1-2-1 and Charlie Mitch is 1-1.

Dye has a 2.03 GAA and .891 saves percentage.

Other quarterfinal games today are: Mosinee (19-4) vs. Madison Edgewood (21-2) at 11 a.m.; Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (16-7) vs. Appleton United (20-2) at 1:15 p.m. and Eau Claire Memorial (23-0) vs. Janesville (18-1-2) at 5 p.m.

The Superior and University School game is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WNXR 107.3 FM. If the Spartans win, Friday’s game and a possible championship game on Saturday will also be carried by WNXR as well as WDSM 710 AM.

Seniors seeing their final action for the Spartans include: Smith, Plummer, Berkseth, Johnson, Cole Lundgren, Vance Plunkett, Noah Gilbertson, Cory Wilander, Andrew Mattson and James LaPine.

Tags: spartans, superior, state, boys, hockey, madison