REEDSBURG — The second half slide for the Cheesemakers continued into the playoffs, and now Monroe’s boys co-op hockey season is done. Monroe lost to Reedsburg’s co-op 1-0 in the opening round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs Feb. 18.

The game’s lone goal came with just 23 seconds left in the first period when Reedsburg’s Ben Fish slipped an unassisted shot past Monroe goalie Heath Bear. Bear would go on to record 22 saves in his final prep hockey game. All 19 of Monroe’s shots were stopped by Reedsburg’s Cooper Oakes.

The Cheesemakers were called for three penalties in the game to the Beavers’ one. 

Monroe ends the season with a program best 14 wins, including five wins in the Badger South — also a program best. In the previous three seasons, the Cheesemakers had just 15 total wins. Monroe started this season 12-1, but scuffled down the stretch, going 2-7-2 over its final 11 games. 

Orangeville junior forwards Hayden Roth and Cade Janecke led the team with 45 points each this season. Roth had 25 goals and 20 assists, while Janecke had 21 goals and 24 assists. Monroe senior Payton Stauffacher had 18 goals and 24 assists. Stauffacher, a defenseman, ends his career with 83 points, including 35 goals.

Bear, a Monroe senior, picked up 13 wins this season. He finished his career with 94 games played, and faced nearly 3,000 shots on goal — an average of 31.7 shots per game. Bear finished with an .886 save percentage for his career, including a .905 mark as a senior. In all, seven Cheesemakers will hang up their skates on their prep careers.