STEVENS POINT — The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control voted to support an Executive Staff recommendation to relocate the State Boys and Girls Hockey Tournaments to Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton, and approved a limited number of action items on its Sept. 16 meeting agenda.
“We are excited about the opportunity to host the upcoming WIAA Boys and Girls State Hockey Championships at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena,” WIAA Assistant Director LeVar Ridgeway said. “With the move, we look forward to creating a great State championship atmosphere for our student-athletes, coaches and fans in a hockey centric facility.”
The WIAA and Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena agreed to a two-year term, effective for the State Tournaments scheduled Thursday-Saturday, March 2-4, 2023. Built in 1999, the venue received a multi-million dollar renovation in 2018 that added significant amenities and upgrades. The facility is equipped with two full sheets of ice with seating for 2,611 spectators, a state-of-the-art sound system, scoreboard and a high-definition video board.
The arena also has a media broadcasting booth, eight public locker rooms, six public bathrooms, and one family restroom. It is the current home for the USHL Madison Capitols and Madison Capitols AAA hockey.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the WIAA State Tournaments for the next two years,” Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena President Ryan Suter said. “We are thankful to the WIAA for entrusting us with this historic event and believe our venue will provide an incredible atmosphere for the players and fans. We look forward to working with the WIAA and the City of Middleton to host this event and crown State champions.”
The Boys State Hockey Tournament has been held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center since the inception of the event in 1971, with the exceptions of 1974 and 1975, and in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Girls State Hockey Tournament has been held in conjunction with the boys tournament since the sport was added in 2002.
“The Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association is excited about this option for the WIAA State Hockey Tournaments,” President Brian Brandt said. “The WIAA and WHCA have worked collaboratively to give the best experience for our athletes and showcase their talents in an exciting environment.”
This season’s Boys and Girls State Hockey Tournaments are scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, March 2-4. The State Tournaments competition time scheduled will be slightly altered to accommodate the change in venue.
The Board reviewed and approved a non-football fast track conference realignment request moving Catholic Central to the Midwest Classic Conference beginning in the 2023-24 school year.
Other action items approved by the Board include updates to the Executive Staff Handbook, new appointments to the Conference Realignment Task Force and an endorsement of a sports-related injury surveillance study funded by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Following a presentation by Co-Founder Jody Redman of InSide Out Initiative, the Board supported a three-year partnership with the Green Bay Packers for the InSide Out Wisconsin Initiative. The program is intended to connect NFL teams with educational and athletic leadership associations to inspire and equip school leaders and communities to transform lives through purpose-based sports. The launch of the program is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 1O, 2023, at Lambeau Field.
Among the reports presented by the Executive Staff to the Board were a review of the ongoing officials recruitment and retainment efforts, recent Area Meetings, 2022-23 membership renewals and preparations for the fall Tournament Series.
The Board also received liaison reports from Paul Manriquez of the Department of Public Instruction, John Ashley of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Shawn Groshek of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association and Andy Engel of the Hamilton Consulting Group.
