We are putting together a summer hockey tournament for the WIAA girls hockey teams. We will have WIAA status next year. I would like to contact the coaches from around the league to invite them this summer to Green Bay, WI. for our annual tune up tournament. We know the coaches have a limited amount of time with their perspective teams before July 31st. This tournament would give them a good measuring stick to see what they need to improve on before the hockey season starts.

The Minnesota Crunch U-19 Womens hockey team gained two Wisconsin players, Aly Lund (ECA Stars) and Emily Haluska (Point-Rapids). The Minnesota Crunch will launch its Inaugural season August 29th at the North American Hockey Academy Labor Day Tournament. The Crunch will play a minimum of 40 games Players must be graduated from High School and be of U-19 age to participate.
In doing some research on the Minnesota Crunch, we were able to learn that Ali Parizek of Minot, North Dakota was the first official member of the Minnesota Crunch. Parizek had 53 goals and 15 assists in her Senior year at Minot. The second player signed by the Crunch was Casey McMullen. Casey played high school hockey for the Minneapolis Nova. Casey scored 30 goals and had 30 assists this past season. Casey was an outstanding high school player in Minnesota. She was nominated for Minnesota Ms.Hockey and a All-State Honorable Mention. However, Casey skills went well beyond hockey as she won the Athena Award for Top Student Athlete. On March 22nd the Crunch released the name of a third player joining the team, Kayla Kaiser from the Grand Forks Rough Riders. General Manager Dan Clafton stated, Kaiser a very skilled and talented defender for the Rough Riders netted 11 goals and 12 helpers for 23 points in her Sr season. The very physical defender also tallied 70 minutes in penalties in helping her Grand Forks Squad to the State Tournament. Clafton went on saying, her style of play and toughness was a key role in their decision to tender Kaiser early in the process. Kayla is soft spoken, but her style of play is anything but soft. She is a great player who we can count on in any situation. Once again our community will be getting a quality individual and someone sure to be a fan favorite.
The team will be coached by Chris Marinucci. Chris played his college hockey at University of Minnesota-Duluth and in the NHL for the New York Islander and Los Angeles Kings. He won the Hobey Baker Award for the 1993-1994 season.
Grant Clafton will be the Director of Hockey and Scouting for the Crunch. Grant was a four year letter winner at St. Cloud State.
Jackie Bischoff will be the strength and conditioning coach. Jackie Bischoff is from Coleraine, Minnesota and is married to former Minnesota Gopher and olympian Grant Bischoff.
Dan Clafton has posted more information about the crunch in the Wisconsin Girls Hockey forums.

Since one of our forum users posted the link for the 2009 Girls Hockey Assignements, I wanted to list them here. The new teams are shown in red and teams that have switched sectionals are shown in blue.The new alignments will make for some interesting playoffs.

SECTIONAL 1
Hayward/Spooner
Hudson
Menomonie/Boyceville
New Richmond Co-op
River Falls Co-op
Superior
Webster Co-op

SECTIONAL 2
Chippewa Falls/McDonell Central
Eau Claire North Co-op
Lakeland
Marshfield
Mosinee Co-op
Northland Pines
Rhinelander
Tomahawk

SECTIONAL 3
Appleton Co-op
Baraboo Co-op
Fond du Lac Co-op
Onalaska Co-op
Reedsburg Area Co-op
Viroqua Co-op
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln Co-op

SECTIONAL 4
Arrowhead
Beaver Dam/Randolph
Beloit Co-op
Middleton Co-op
Stoughton Co-op
Sun Prairie Co-op
University School of Milwaukee Co-op

     Last season five Wisconsin Girls Hockey teams combined to play for the Big Rivers Conference title. This season six teams will combine to play for the Badger Conference title. The conferences are as follows:

On April 11th the WIAA released the information stating that 13 Girls Hockey Co-ops were approved. We would like to thank Rob Hernandez of the Wisconsin State Journal for providing the information to WIGH. Also, THANK YOU to Tim Scott of ESPN 1070 in Madison for helping us in getting in touch with Rob to obtain the information.
The numbers at the end of each co-op reflects in order how many players are expected from each school in the co-op. The co-ops are listed in alphabetical order with the host school being listed first:

Appleton West/East/North is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 7/4/6.
Baraboo/River Valley/Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 14/2/4/2.
Beaver Dam/Randolph is approved for as a New co-op and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 16/1.
Beloit Memorial/Clinton/Janesville Craig/Janesville Parker/Turner is approved for as a New co-op and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 8/1/4/3/3.
Chippewa Falls/McDonell Central is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 16/3.
Eau Claire North/Altoona/Eau Claire Memorial is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 8/7/11.
Menomonie/Boyceville is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 14/1.
Middleton/Barneveld/Dodgeville/Madison Edgewood/Madison Memorial?/Madison West/Verona Area is approved for as a New co-op and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 7/1/3/1/6/2. This is a new co-op due to Barneveld and Dodgeville being added to the co-op.
New Richmond/Amery/Clear Lake/Osceola/Somerset is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 17/2/4/0/2.
Reedsburg Area/Mauston/Wisconsin Dells is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 14/2/2.
Stoughton/McFarland/Monona Grove/Oregon is approved for as a New co-op and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 7/2/5/4.
Sun Prairie/DeForest/Madison East/Madison LaFollette/Waunakee is approved for as a New co-op and the 2008-2009 participants from each school is expected to be 7/3/2/2/3.
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln/Wisconsin Rapids Assumption/Pacelli/Stevens Point is approved for a Renewal and the 2008-2009 participants from each school was not provided.

I had read online that Marshfield had approved girls hockey as a high school sport, but did not see them listed here. This could be that they will not be a co-op or that it may beging the next season.

     I received an e-mail this morning informing me that WAHA had decided that they were not offering a Girls Team Wisconsin this year. After reading the e-mail I went to the WAHA website and sure enough their scrolling message reads:

The first thing I would like to say about the Girls Senior Tournament is:
Mike,
Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to run this tournament for these young ladies. They, along with their teammates, have provided entertainment for numerous hockey fans, parents and friends over the years and one last opportunity to watch them play was greatly appreciated. Many times the work done by individuals, such as yourself, is overlooked or we just plain forget to say Thank you.
Then I want to say thank you to all the coaches who took their time to coach the teams throughout the day. Once again you have shown your love for the game, but more importantly your desire to work with these players and letting them play a game they enjoy.
Lastly, to the players - Thank you for this weekend and all of the games over the past years. It has been fun for your fans, families and friends to watch you grow and develop in your hockey skills, but even more so as responsible young women. The dedication you have shown to girls hockey has had a positive impact on a sport that continues to grow. Many of you were on the first all-girl teams in your area and you have had young girls watch you play and help instill the desire in them to play this game. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and know you will excel. Once again, THANK YOU for everything.

Beloit is the administering school, with Clinton, Beloit Turner, Janesville Craig & Janesville Parker as other members of the co-op. Dave Witting, a name familiar to Wisconsin hockey, has stepped in as the interim Athletic Director for Beloit Memorial High School and is the current administrator of the proposed co-op. Beloit is looking to set up games (in anticipation of co-op approval) and others can reach Dave at 608-361-3023. We are hopeful we will receive word back from WIAA quickly.