This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Stevens Point senior forward Kade Smigaj was named Player of the Year, the second time he earned that honor in his career, and was among the six first-team selections to the 2022-23 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Boys Hockey Team, which was voted on by the six conference coaches following the season.
Smigaj, a three-time first-team all-WVC honoree, also won the Player of the Year award in 2020-21. He led the conference in scoring, finishing tied for third with 11 goals and first in assists with 21 to accumulate 32 points as the Panthers won the conference championship.
Joining him on the first team were teammates Hunter Christjohn at goalie, Mason Keller as a defenseman, and forward Jackson Schroeder. Smigaj, Keller and Christjohn all were unanimous selections.
Wisconsin Rapids forward Carsen Gause and Wausau West senior defenseman Mason Debroux round out the first-team picks.
Marshfield senior forward Noah Peterson was among the second-team picks.
Peterson led Marshfield with eight goals and was second on the team with seven assists in conference play as the Tigers went 3-7.
Marshfield’s other all-conference selection was senior goalie Cole Halvorsen, who was an honorable mention choice. Halvorsen, who started every WVC game for the Tigers, had a .846 save percentage with 259 total saves in the team’s 10 games.
2022-23 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Boys Hockey Team
(*denotes unanimous selection)
First Team
Goalie: *Hunter Christjohn, sr., Stevens Point.
Defensemen: *Mason Keller, sr., Stevens Point; Mason Debroux, sr., Wausau West.
Forwards: *Kade Smigaj, sr., Stevens Point; *Carsen Gause, jr., Wisconsin Rapids; Jackson Schroeder, so., Stevens Point.
Second Team
Goalie: Parks Guenther, jr., Wausau West.
Defensemen: Mason Dillingham, so., Stevens Point; Carter Morrison, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Forwards: Thomas Gerum, sr., Wausau West; Josh Dekarske, jr., Wisconsin Rapids; Noah Peterson, sr., Marshfield.
Honorable Mention
Goalies: Jake Furrer, sr., Wausau East/Merrill; Cole Halvorsen, sr., Marshfield.
Defensemen: Kole Ress, sr., D.C. Everest; Ryan Ellis, sr., Wausau West; Keaton Oettinger, sr., D.C. Everest.
Forwards: Grant Halmstad, sr., Wausau West; Judah Leder, sr., Wausau West; Trevor Vilbaum, sr., Wisconsin Rapids; Zach Pagel, so., Wausau East/Merrill; Matthew Eiden, sr., Stevens Point; Cooper Depuydt, fr., Wausau West.
Player of the Year: Kade Smigaj, sr., Stevens Point.